The Durango Police Department plans to replace its current Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) system with an Axon system in 2027, according to Rocky Mountain PBS reporting on September 3, 2026. This change means the department will not renew its contract with Flock Safety. Durango Police had access to 21 Flock license plate reader cameras as of late 2025.
Drivers in Durango will still encounter ALPR technology. The police department is not ending its use of license plate readers, which gather vehicle information for investigations. The switch aims to integrate the ALPR system with other technology the department already uses, like body cameras and in-car video from Axon.
What does this change mean for drivers in Durango?
For drivers, the presence of license plate readers on Durango roads will continue. The primary change is the vendor managing the technology and the associated data handling policies. While the specific locations of the 21 cameras are not detailed in the report, their function of capturing vehicle information remains the same.
Durango Police Chief Brice Current stated that the decision was not due to Flock's failure but part of an evolution in their program. The department considered several factors:
- Privacy protections
- Data sharing practices
- System security
- Cost efficiency
- Investigative effectiveness
This move follows similar transitions in other Colorado cities, such as Denver, which also switched from Flock to Axon earlier in 2026. This shift in Durango does not inherently resolve all privacy concerns, as the core function of collecting license plate data continues.
How will data from license plate readers be handled?
The Durango Police Department has updated its policies regarding how license plate reader data is accessed and stored. These updated rules aim to address privacy concerns, which have been a point of contention for ALPR systems nationwide. For drivers, understanding these policies is key to knowing how their vehicle data might be used.
Under the new policy:
- Every search of license plate data must be linked to a specific case or investigation.
- Accessing data older than seven days requires reasonable suspicion and approval from a supervisor.
- Routine license plate data can be stored for up to 21 days.
- Data may be kept longer if it is needed as evidence or for other legal reasons.
These policy changes are intended to govern how police use the data collected by the ALPR cameras, regardless of whether they are from Flock or Axon. Residents can ask their local police department about their specific data retention policies and how they ensure accountability for ALPR use. You can also visit FlockDetour's map to see where cameras are located.
The transition to Axon is set for 2027, at which point the existing Flock cameras will be replaced by the new system.