Yahoo reported that Fairfield, Connecticut, has removed every Flock Safety license plate reader from its streets. The town replaced them with 54 cameras from Axon, another supplier of automated license plate recognition technology. According to CT Insider, the Flock removal was completed on Oct. 5, 2026.
Did Fairfield stop using plate readers?
Not entirely. The town ended its relationship with Flock, but police are still collecting vehicle information to help investigate crimes. Police Chief Michael Paris said he had wanted to switch to Axon since becoming chief last year.
What changes for drivers?
Only Fairfield's own cameras changed. According to the reporting, the town now operates:
- 54 Axon license plate readers
- Units placed near schools, areas associated with criminal activity, and routes suspects often use to enter or leave town
Residents may notice more equipment. Paris said Axon uses a separate pole for each camera, while Flock could mount two cameras on one pole.
What doesn't change: the department says the cameras do not use facial recognition or identify drivers. The reporting also says the replacement system keeps monitoring passing vehicles. Plate readers run by neighboring towns, the county, the state, or private businesses are not part of Fairfield's switch and stay where they are.
How long does Fairfield keep plate data?
Fairfield's published policy keeps routine data for 21 days unless information is preserved as potential evidence. Officers must give a case number and justification for each search, and internal affairs conducts monthly audits.
Paris says Fairfield keeps exclusive control of its plate data, and that Axon and outside agencies cannot access it. The department also bars using the information for immigration enforcement or for anything that would get around Connecticut's Trust Act. Those are Paris's statements.
What should residents ask?
Residents can ask the police department how the new Axon system is audited and who reviews those audits. For published transparency records, see agency records.
To see plate readers mapped near you, check the camera map. For a plain explanation of what the logs contain and how long they last, read how plate readers work.