Sacramento Bee reported that the Auburn City Council voted 5-0 on Monday to delay a decision on whether to keep its 12 Flock Safety license plate reader cameras. The cameras remain in operation while the council gathers more information and surveys residents.
What did the council decide?
The council has not decided whether to keep the cameras, add restrictions or end the contract with Flock Safety. The vote only postponed that choice. Members cited concerns about privacy, data sharing and oversight.
Councilmember Bridget Powers said she had not yet met with opponents of the cameras or had enough time to review the police department's responses. Mayor Kelley Davis agreed the council needed more time.
How many agencies can see Auburn's plate data?
According to an Oct. 1 Auburn Police Department report, the city:
- shares its data with 274 agencies
- receives data from 197 agencies, including 180 with reciprocal sharing agreements
- does not share with federal or out-of-state agencies
Council members asked how the city can prevent unauthorized sharing when software updates can change system settings. A previous change in sharing settings went unnoticed by police until a public records request turned it up, according to comments at the meeting.
The department reported that 33 people have access to the system. Five administrators, including Police Chief Bryan Morrison, are authorized to approve data sharing. Morrison said the department is working to implement a more formal audit process, and its written report says audits happen every 30 days.
What does the contract cost?
- The contract with Flock Safety runs through June 2028.
- It costs about $30,000 a year.
- Ending it early would cost at least $6,000, based on $500 per camera. Flock still has to confirm the final amount.
The city has no separate citywide policy for the technology. The police department has its own existing policy. Council members discussed stronger rules for data sharing, storage, training and oversight, along with a possible community advisory committee.
What changes for drivers?
Nothing changes yet. Auburn's 12 cameras stay on while the council works through the decision. The council could also terminate the Flock contract, but the source does not say what would happen to the cameras if it did. Plate readers run by neighboring cities, the county, the state, businesses or HOAs are not part of this vote, and nothing in the source says the decision would affect them.
You can check where plate readers sit near you on the camera map, and read how plate readers work before the council's next decision.
When will the council take this up again?
Interim City Manager James Lindsay said the issue will not return at the next council meeting. Staff will provide a timeline after they assess the additional work needed.