The mayor of Harrisburg, Arkansas, has put trash bags over the city's license plate readers until the city council weighs in on their use. NewsNation reported the move on Oct. 9, and said the council plans to meet on Monday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. to vote on a resolution that will decide what happens to the bagged cameras.
Why did the mayor cover the cameras?
Mayor Justin Kimble said some residents came to him with concerns. "Some of the public, they didn't like the idea of being watched," Kimble said, referring to the DeFlock America movement. He said he had not thought much about the cameras until people showed up to say they did not like them.
Kimble said he comes from law enforcement and finds it hard to take a tool away from officers. "But if you have the majority of your community…me and my city council really need to listen to what the people want," he said.
How many cameras does Harrisburg have?
Kimble described five cameras. One is a Flock automated license plate reader on a power pole on South Illinois Avenue in front of Rusken Packaging. The other four were made by Verkada. NewsNation says WREG, a NewsNation affiliate, captured drone video of two of the Verkada cameras covered with trash bags off Highway 14.
Kimble said none of the cameras have been deactivated. The bags are the only change NewsNation reports so far.
What will the council decide Monday?
The council's resolution will decide what happens to the bagged cameras. Police Chief Michael Turner said the department is probably going to move away from Flock. "We're probably going to get away from Flock; in my opinion, it's too expensive for us," he said. He would like to switch to the Verkada system the department already has.
Turner said he wants time limits on data storage. He also wants a subpoena or warrant required before data is archived. "I think we have to find a balance to where our citizens feel safe with us using this technology, but we also have safeguards in place," he said.
What changes for drivers?
Nothing is settled yet. The cameras are covered, not removed, and NewsNation does not say whether the council will end the Flock contract or keep the Verkada cameras. Readers can see where cameras are on the camera map.
NewsNation also reports that Flock Safety is cutting its standard data retention from 30 days to seven and has added an audit tool that locks users out after abnormal searches. NewsNation does not say whether either change applies to Harrisburg's cameras. For background on how plate readers work, read how plate readers work.