{"id":72129,"date":"2026-01-30T12:37:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T17:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/?p=72129"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:19:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T21:19:24","slug":"michigan-license-plate-cameras-face-backlash-big-help-or-big-brother","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-license-plate-cameras-face-backlash-big-help-or-big-brother\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan license plate cameras face backlash: Big help, or Big Brother?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>License plate readers used by Michigan law enforcement coming under citizen scrutiny over privacy, data sharing concerns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>With no state law regulating use of license plate readers, information sharing decisions fall on local governments<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Law enforcement agencies praise tech as a way to solve crimes: \u2018We do not spy on residents\u2019<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>In more than 125 cities and counties across Michigan, nondescript cameras perched near busy roadways snap a picture every time a car drives by.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cameras \u2014 automated license plate readers primarily operated under contract with Flock Safety of Atlanta \u2014 are touted by law enforcement agencies as a speedy way to help locate missing people or catch criminals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But privacy advocates and citizens in communities large and small are increasingly raising concerns, arguing the technology infringes on citizens\u2019 privacy rights, relies too heavily on artificial intelligence and can lead to data getting shared well beyond local boundary lines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those concerns have ramped up in recent months amid the Trump administration\u2019s aggressive deportation campaign.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Flock has said it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flocksafety.com\/blog\/does-flock-share-data-with-ice-or-federal-agencies\">does not directly share<\/a> data with any federal agency, but system lookup data analyzed last year by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.404media.co\/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows\/\">404 Media<\/a> showed local and state police across the country have frequently performed searches for federal partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/state-new-wrong-way-detection-system-cut-crashes-on-michigan-highway\/\"><strong>State: New wrong-way detection system cut crashes on Michigan highway<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-cities-limit-salt-use-because-icy-temps-mean-it-wont-work-anyway\/\">Michigan cities limit salt use because icy temps mean it won\u2019t work, anyway<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-travel-pitch-draws-canadian-criticism-amid-trump-trade-tensions\/\"><strong>Michigan travel pitch draws Canadian criticism amid Trump trade tensions<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI see this as one big, slippery slope,\u201d retired attorney Linda Berker told the Lapeer County Commission last week as officials considered allowing its sheriff\u2019s department to purchase license plate readers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI know we have a right to safety, but what about privacy, and what about the right to go wherever you want, whenever you want, without the government tracking you?\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some cities, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlive.com\/news\/saginaw-bay-city\/2025\/11\/bay-city-commission-rejects-contract-for-license-plate-readers-following-backlash.html\">Bay City<\/a> and Ferndale, have in recent months backed out of contracts with Flock and are reassessing their use of license plate readers in response to community concerns.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Detroit, Police Chief Todd Bettison has said his agency is \u201cnot sharing data\u201d with ICE, but city council members last week <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgedetroit.com\/detroit-council-wants-assurance-that-police-data-isnt-shared\/\">requested a report on how data collected from the city\u2019s more than 500 license plate readers is used<\/a>, expressing concerns about the possibility of data sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But other communities are still considering getting their own license plate readers or adding onto existing contracts as local police credit the technology with helping <a href=\"https:\/\/www.candgnews.com\/news\/armed--suspects-arrested-after-chase-in-farmington-hills-3232\">locate stolen vehicles<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.police1.com\/tech-pulse\/mich-officers-commended-for-arresting-alleged-predators-using-latest-technology\">bust human trafficking rings<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox2detroit.com\/news\/warren-police-credit-license-plate-readers-with-helping-solve-rapes-murders-other-violent-crimes\">solve serious crimes like rapes and murders<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlive.com\/news\/flint\/2025\/10\/flint-on-verge-of-big-expansion-of-flock-camera-surveillance-network.html\">fill coverage gaps<\/a> in short-staffed departments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe do not spy on residents,\u201d Waterford Township Police Chief Scott Underwood told local officials during a Monday hearing. His department requested and received a three-year, $60,000 video integration add-on to its existing contract with Flock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe use our Flock technology and all of our technology in a responsible, ethical way to investigate and solve crimes,\u201d he continued.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8216;F<strong>orce multiplier&#8217; for police<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In most communities with license plate readers, the devices are placed at or near major public intersections. As vehicles pass by, the reader takes a photo of the back of the car, collecting the license plate number that can be used to look up the vehicle registration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Photos are typically stored by the contractor for 30 days, though locals can elect to keep them for more or less time. The law enforcement entity can then cross-check those images with \u201chot lists\u201d of license plates connected to suspected criminals or missing people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"570\" data-attachment-id=\"72135\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-license-plate-cameras-face-backlash-big-help-or-big-brother\/attachment\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?fit=1835%2C1021&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1835,1021\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"012626_scottunderwood_waterford\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;CAPTION: Waterford Township Police Chief Scott Underwood, who requested and received permission to add to the department\u2019s existing Flock contract, said the technology is used \u2018in a responsible, ethical way to investigate and solve crimes.\u2019 (Screenshot)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?fit=300%2C167&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?fit=1024%2C570&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?resize=1024%2C570&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Waterford\" class=\"wp-image-72135\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.7965067923482119;width:400px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?resize=1024%2C570&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?resize=300%2C167&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?resize=768%2C427&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?resize=1536%2C855&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?resize=1200%2C668&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?resize=780%2C434&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?resize=400%2C223&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford.png?w=1835&amp;ssl=1 1835w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012626_scottunderwood_waterford-1024x570.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Waterford Township Police Chief Scott Underwood, who requested and received permission to add to the department\u2019s existing Flock contract, said the technology is used \u2018in a responsible, ethical way to investigate and solve crimes.\u2019 (Screenshot)<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe cameras get a photo of the back of the vehicle and license plate. There is no personally identifiable information,\u201d Kerry McCormack, a Flock representative and former Cleveland City Council member, recently told Lapeer County commissioners. \u201cWho&#8217;s driving the car, what they eat for breakfast, their Social Security number \u2014 any attributes of the person are not captured by this camera.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McCormack said Flock is designed to be a \u201cforce multiplier\u201d to help police collaborate and do their jobs more efficiently.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contracting agencies can choose to share the collected data with other agencies nationally or limit data sharing to within their state or region, McCormack added, noting that the company takes the balance between privacy and public safety seriously.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Separately, US Border Patrol has worked with technology companies to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ap.org\/news-highlights\/spotlights\/2025\/border-patrol-is-monitoring-us-drivers-and-detaining-those-with-suspicious-travel-patterns\/\">place its own license plate cameras<\/a> in Michigan and other states, according to an Associated Press investigation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Critics contend that 24-hour surveillance of drivers, the vast majority of whom will never be charged with a crime, poses major privacy concerns. The 30-day standard for storing the data also means anyone with access could gain insight into a driver\u2019s daily routines, said Gabrielle Dresner, a policy strategist with the ACLU of Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s an extensive amount of travel data that\u2019s being held on people just traversing the roadways, doing nothing wrong,\u201d Dresner said. \u201cYou can see a pattern of people\u2019s movements based on where their license plate crosses through.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Differing approaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Waterford Township, where police began using license plate readers in 2022, law enforcement is adding additional readers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/public-safety\/three-flock-drones-join-the-force-in-waterford-mich\">Flock-powered drones<\/a> to its repertoire, despite concerted pushback from locals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Township trustees on Monday also approved <a href=\"https:\/\/waterfordmi.gov\/AgendaCenter\/ViewFile\/Item\/10365?fileID=39464\">an updated agreement that includes Flock OS-Plus<\/a>, a system that allows officers to integrate Flock footage with video from cruiser dashcams, body cameras and the Waterford School District.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other communities have attempted to mollify residents\u2019 concerns by seeking other options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last November, the city of Ferndale <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ferndalemi.gov\/news\/ferndale-police-department-press-release-flock\">ended its partnership with Flock<\/a> amid significant public backlash to the pilot program that began in 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time, Ferndale Police Chief Dennis Emmi said the city would evaluate other potential vendors for license plate readers and aimed \u201cto balance ethical standards with community expectations while equipping investigators with effective tools to solve crime.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" data-attachment-id=\"72136\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-license-plate-cameras-face-backlash-big-help-or-big-brother\/attachment\/012226_ferndaleflock_lg\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1928&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1928\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"012226_ferndaleflock_LG\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;The city of Ferndale ended its partnership with Flock last fall but aims to keep using license plate reader technology under a new vendor. The city is set to consider a new ordinance addressing privacy protections and oversight of surveillance technology in February. (Lauren Gibbons \/ Bridge Michigan)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C771&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG.jpg?resize=1024%2C771&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ferndale flock cam\" class=\"wp-image-72136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C771&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C578&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1157&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1542&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C301&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C904&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1506&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-scaled.jpg?resize=780%2C587&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012226_ferndaleflock_LG-1024x771.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The city of Ferndale ended its partnership with Flock last fall but aims to keep using license plate reader technology under a new vendor. The city is set to consider a new ordinance addressing privacy protections and oversight of surveillance technology in February. (Lauren Gibbons \/ Bridge Michigan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>City officials in December <a href=\"https:\/\/d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net\/ferndalemi\/3a61c77138b998593c5f6813afa039df0.pdf\">tentatively approved a five-year contract with a different company, Axon<\/a>, for license plate reader services.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emmi told Bridge Michigan that approval of the contract is contingent on the council passing a separate ordinance addressing privacy protections and city oversight of surveillance technology, scheduled to come up in February.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In communities actively considering new or updated license plate reader contracts, much of the public criticism has centered around the possibility of data being used to surveil lawful activity or the possible sharing of data with federal law enforcement agencies, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flocksafety.com\/blog\/does-flock-share-data-with-ice-or-federal-agencies\">do not contract with Flock<\/a> but can request data from local police.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sarah Hamid, director of strategic campaigns for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for digital privacy rights, said community pushback against license plate readers \u201creally exploded\u201d starting in summer 2025 as reports emerged about the data being used for immigration-related searches, <a href=\"https:\/\/krishnamoorthi.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/krishnamoorthi.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/2025-08-06.garcia-krishnamoorthi-to-flock-re-lpr-tech-and-tracking.pdf\">people seeking abortions<\/a> and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAll across the country, you&#8217;re seeing this concerted effort to push these surveillance sensors out of their community as soon as possible,\u201d Hamid said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An Electronic Frontier Foundation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eff.org\/deeplinks\/2025\/11\/how-cops-are-using-flock-safetys-alpr-network-surveil-protesters-and-activists\">analysis of nationwide searches<\/a> on Flock servers found several instances of protest-related searches, including lookups from the Grand Rapids Police Department that corresponded with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wzzm13.com\/video\/news\/local\/hundreds-rally-in-grand-rapids-for-human-rights\/69-0789f5a7-47b0-43a6-8a85-34d404f9b4ed\">February rally<\/a>. A department spokesperson <a href=\"https:\/\/michiganadvance.com\/2025\/07\/22\/license-plate-reader-searches-by-grand-rapids-pd-point-to-need-for-guardrails-legal-advocates-say\/\">later told the Michigan Advance <\/a>that police do not use the Flock devices to target protesters.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Last line of defense, first line of exposure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Lapeer County, commissioners remain split on whether to move forward with Flock cameras, opting to continue discussions next month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sheriff Scott McKenna said he understands the reticence and respects local opinions. But he said the concerns are hard to square with the positive impacts he believes readers could have on the county, citing the technology\u2019s usefulness for finding elderly residents with dementia or tracking criminals hailing from outside county lines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;ve never seen a tool that&#8217;s more beneficial for protecting the community than this one,\u201d he told commissioners.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-attachment-id=\"72137\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-license-plate-cameras-face-backlash-big-help-or-big-brother\/attachment\/license-plate-cameras-regulations\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;AP&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-1&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;FILE - A Flock Safety license plate reader is seen along a public road, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo\/David Goldman, File)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1760617552&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.004&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;License Plate Cameras-Regulations&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"License Plate Cameras-Regulations\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;At least 16 states have adopted policies aimed at regulating the use and retention of data collected by license plate readers. (David Goldman \/ Associated Press)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Flock camera\" class=\"wp-image-72137\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?resize=780%2C520&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26015654981548-1024x683.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At least 16 states have adopted policies aimed at regulating the use and retention of data collected by license plate readers. (David Goldman \/ Associated Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Commissioner Scott McMahan wasn\u2019t as convinced, expressing fears that for all the promises that data wouldn\u2019t be shared with federal agencies or other third parties, it may not end up being in the county\u2019s control.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;re talking about enabling a system that will be 24\/7 surveilling all citizens, law-abiding, all of us, and storing that data,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re now expected to just take (Flock\u2019s) word for it that you\u2019re not sharing this.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As public awareness of automated license plate readers grows, there\u2019s no exact blueprint or best practice for communities considering new license plate reader contracts or adding to existing ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At least 16 states have adopted policies aimed at regulating the use and retention of data collected by license plate readers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncsl.org\/technology-and-communication\/automated-license-plate-readers-state-statutes\">according to the National Conference of State Legislatures<\/a>, though efforts in several states to beef up privacy protections <a href=\"https:\/\/stateline.org\/2025\/10\/10\/despite-widespread-interest-only-3-states-passed-license-plate-reader-laws-this-year\/\">failed to advance<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Michigan has no state law on the books governing the readers, meaning the decision on how license plate readers are used comes down to a \u201cpatchwork of local policies,\u201d said Hamid of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCities aren&#8217;t just the last line of defense against federal encroachment, they&#8217;re also the first line of exposure through these data systems,\u201d Hamid said, adding that because agencies often share data across local boundaries, \u201ccommunity members really need to be asking hard questions about where their data actually flows.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Privacy advocates are raising red flags over Flock cameras used in more than 125 Michigan cities and counties. But police say they help solve crimes. \u2018We do not spy on residents,&#8217; said one chief. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":559,"featured_media":72131,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-01-30T17:37:21Z","apple_news_api_id":"3775cdd4-4145-452a-9e28-378c36cf5bd2","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-01-30T21:19:29Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AN3XN1EFFRSqeKDeMNs9b0g","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[2445],"tags":[4328,1542,1548],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[2460],"class_list":["post-72129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-michigan-government","tag-top-of-homepage","tag-michigan-roads","tag-michigan-secretary-state","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Michigan license plate cameras face backlash: Big help, or Big Brother? - Bridge Michigan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-license-plate-cameras-face-backlash-big-help-or-big-brother\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Michigan license plate cameras face backlash: Big help, or Big Brother? - Bridge Michigan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Privacy advocates are raising red flags over Flock cameras used in more than 125 Michigan cities and counties. 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Prior to joining Bridge's Capitol team, she worked at MLive, where she led coverage of the state Legislature and the redistricting process, and before that covered the state Senate for MIRS News. She has covered the ins and outs of Michigan politics for nearly a decade and has won awards both for her political coverage and her work documenting the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. Lauren grew up in the Lansing area and graduated from Michigan State University, majoring in journalism and history. She lives in Ferndale, and her party tricks include Irish dancing and telling friends what political districts they live in without looking. 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license plate readers are useful tools but also have the potential for abuse.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Michigan Government&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Government","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-government\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A solar-powered license plate reader mounted on a pole outside","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/PLATE-READERS-PHOTO-1170x781-1.jpg?fit=1170%2C781&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/PLATE-READERS-PHOTO-1170x781-1.jpg?fit=1170%2C781&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/PLATE-READERS-PHOTO-1170x781-1.jpg?fit=1170%2C781&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/PLATE-READERS-PHOTO-1170x781-1.jpg?fit=1170%2C781&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, 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James","date":"January 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Beginning in February, Michigan motorists will be able to buy the vintage Great Lakes blue plate from the 1980s and 90s, along with a white-on-black plate from the late 70s.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Michigan Government&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Government","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-government\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blue and white license Michigan license plate","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/michigan-blue-great-lakes-license-plate-80s-90s.jpg?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/michigan-blue-great-lakes-license-plate-80s-90s.jpg?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/michigan-blue-great-lakes-license-plate-80s-90s.jpg?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/michigan-blue-great-lakes-license-plate-80s-90s.jpg?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/michigan-blue-great-lakes-license-plate-80s-90s.jpg?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1891,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/0hcrap-michigan-bans-25k-license-plates-being-2damh0t\/","url_meta":{"origin":72129,"position":2},"title":"0HCRAP, Michigan bans 25K license plates for being 2DAMH0T","author":"Janelle D. James","date":"February 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Secretary of State has rejected over 25,000 personalized license plates including \u201c0LFART\u201d and \u201cMAFIA\u201d because the combination of letters and numbers result in not-so-friendly words or phrases.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Michigan Government&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Government","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-government\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"michigan license plate","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/michigan-license-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/michigan-license-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/michigan-license-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/michigan-license-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/michigan-license-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":444,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/awwhell-no-see-which-license-plates-are-2damfun-michigan\/","url_meta":{"origin":72129,"position":3},"title":"AWWHELL no: See which license plates are 2DAMFUN for Michigan","author":"Janelle D. James","date":"January 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Department of State office has denied more than 25,000 personalized license plates due to the letter and number combinations forming inappropriate words or phrases.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Michigan Government&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Government","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-government\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A graphic of the banned license plates in Michigan including, \"0CRAP\" and \"OHIOSUX\"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/license-plate-graphic.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/license-plate-graphic.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/license-plate-graphic.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/license-plate-graphic.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/license-plate-graphic.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":71279,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/0hdamm-michigan-has-banned-more-than-30000-license-plates\/","url_meta":{"origin":72129,"position":4},"title":"0HDAMM, Michigan has banned more than 30,000 license plates\u00a0","author":"Janelle D. James","date":"January 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"With another 2,000 rejects last year, Michigan has now banned more than 30,000 personalized license plates for reasons like vulgar language or drug references. We have the list.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Michigan Government&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Government","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-government\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Banned license plate","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/redwine1725AL.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/redwine1725AL.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/redwine1725AL.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/redwine1725AL.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/redwine1725AL.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4195,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/quality-life\/retro-high-tech-michigan-drivers-snap-new-license-plate-options\/","url_meta":{"origin":72129,"position":5},"title":"From retro to high-tech, Michigan drivers snap up new license plate options","author":"Roni Kane","date":"June 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The \u201cWater-Winter Wonderland\u201d state license plate is back from the 1960s and has quickly become a best-seller. Meanwhile, digital license plates are making their Michigan debut this summer.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Quality of Life&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Quality of Life","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/quality-life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"license plate","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PHOTO-1-LICENSE-PLATES.jpeg?fit=458%2C242&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/559"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72129"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72129\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72143,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72129\/revisions\/72143"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72129"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=72129"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=72129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}