Mount Clemens, Michigan, has ordered the immediate removal of an automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera operating without city authorization. The camera was found installed on North River Road, approximately 45 to 50 feet within city limits.
MLive Express Desk reported MLive Express Desk reported that neither the camera's manufacturer nor the Macomb County Sheriff's Department secured the necessary permits from the city. The camera, part of a one-year pilot program by the sheriff's department, was deployed in 2023.
What happened with the unpermitted camera?
City Manager Gregg Shipman revealed during a commission work session on Monday, September 21, that the camera lacked proper installation permits. Flock Safety, the camera's manufacturer, acknowledged that its previous administration failed to obtain these permits.
City commissioners voted to demand the camera's removal and deactivation. They raised concerns about surveillance systems operating without clear local guidelines. Commissioners noted that any resident placing unauthorized items in city medians would face legal action.
Drivers in Mount Clemens need to understand that this specific camera will be taken down. For more details on where ALPRs are active, you can always check our /map.
What does this mean for future camera installations?
The legal framework for ALPRs in Michigan is complex. City Attorney Rob Huth noted that state lawmakers have not passed unified regulations, leading to inconsistent oversight across municipalities.
Mount Clemens officials are taking steps to address these gaps:
- They plan to draft an ordinance for a formal permitting process for utility and camera installations in city easements.
- They intend to address surveillance oversight when renegotiating their law enforcement contract with the sheriff's department.
- Commissioners have imposed a moratorium on future right-of-way surveillance devices until a clear policy is established.
Commissioner Spencer Calhoun also brought up data security issues, citing past data breaches and voluntary information sharing by Flock Safety. He mentioned that Illinois recently sued the company over its practices.
City Manager Shipman has been directed to ensure the North River Road camera is disabled and removed. The city's next steps involve drafting a new ordinance and renegotiating their law enforcement contract, which will include provisions for surveillance oversight.