The Newberry News reported that Michigan's police chiefs association backs state rules for license plate readers, and that Flock Safety says customers control their own data. The article carries a Capital News Service byline by Shaina Sternhell and was published October 13, 2026.
The statewide bills that would set those rules are still pending in committee.
Are Michigan's license plate reader bills law yet?
Not yet. The report says bills to regulate license plate readers statewide are pending in the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake Township, and Rep. Douglas Wozniak, D-Shelby Township, are the lead sponsors.
The report gives no hearing date or vote schedule for either committee.
Where do Michigan cities stand on Flock?
The report lists these local moves:
- Lansing: The City Council voted to ask the mayor and police department to end the city's Flock Safety contract. The report does not give the vote count.
- Bay City and Ferndale: Both have cancelled their Flock contracts, according to Bridge Michigan as cited in the report.
- Lapeer County: The sheriff's office recently dropped its request for license plate readers.
- Grand Rapids: The city placed its system under its surveillance technology policy. That policy calls for extra approvals from the Public Safety Committee and City Commission before future purchases, renewals or expansions.
For cameras near you, the camera map shows where plate readers are installed. The agencies page lists published transparency records for departments.
What do the police chiefs and Flock want?
Ron Wiles, executive director of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, said the group backs a 30-day retention period for plate reader data, audits of searches and officer training. He also said an ALPR hit should not be the only reason for a stop or arrest.
Flock says it has set seven days as the default retention period for new customers. It is also introducing an Evidence Mode for data tied to active investigations. Courtney Terlecki, a Flock media relations representative, said the company is looking to bring its Audit Assistance feature to all law enforcement customers before the end of 2026.
The report does not say whether Michigan law would require any of these steps. They are the association's and the company's positions.
What changes for drivers?
The report does not say what drivers face in practice, and it does not say whether the pending bills would change anything for them.
Lansing's council vote asks officials to end the city's Flock contract. The report does not say whether or when Lansing's cameras would come down.
The report also does not address cameras run by neighboring cities, counties, the state, businesses or HOAs.
Flock says its cameras capture point-in-time images of vehicles, along with the plate and limited details such as make and color, and that they do not follow people in real time. The report presents that as the company's description and does not say whether it was independently tested.
What should residents ask their city?
- How long are plate reader images kept, and does a written policy set that period?
- Who can search the data, and is each search logged with a stated purpose?
- Does the council approve new purchases, renewals or expansions?
- Does the department publish its policy and data-sharing rules?
How plate readers work covers the basics before a meeting.
The report gives no hearing date for the state bills, so the next thing to watch is whether either committee takes them up.