Oxford, Ohio – The Oxford City Council voted 6-1 on August 18, 2026, to terminate its contract with Flock Safety. This decision will lead to the removal of the 14 automated license plate readers (ALPRs) that have been operating in the city since 2024, according to reporting by The Miami Student.
This move came despite the Oxford Police Department's proposals for new oversight recommendations and its argument for the cameras' value. Council members expressed trust in local police but not in Flock Safety or the volume of data it collects.
What happens to the cameras now?
The contract officially ends in February 2027. While the city has terminated the agreement, the physical cameras might remain in place until Flock Safety removes them. The city cannot remove the cameras themselves because they are leased and considered Flock Safety's private property. Oxford has already placed bags over some cameras to halt operations until their removal.
Flock Safety has, in other instances, been slow to remove its hardware after contract terminations. In one case, the company even reinstalled cameras in an Illinois community after they had been removed. For drivers, this means that even with a contract termination, cameras may still be present and potentially active for a period.
Why did Oxford end the contract?
The decision in Oxford reflects growing community concerns about ALPR technology and its effectiveness. The council's move follows similar actions by other communities across the country. Key points driving the decision include:
- Data Collection Concerns: Council members cited concerns about the amount of data collected by Flock Safety and the company itself.
- Effectiveness Doubts: The effectiveness of ALPRs in reducing crime has been questioned. A study cited by Flock Safety, suggesting an 11% reduction in car theft, was later scrutinized by the nonprofit Institute for Justice, which found no statistically significant change when other factors were considered.
- Privacy Implications: The Institute for Justice maintains a database tracking reported failures and abuses of Flock cameras, highlighting concerns about warrantless tracking and potential misuse.
Drivers should be aware that while Oxford has taken a step to reduce surveillance, the presence of ALPRs remains a concern in many areas. You can explore the extent of ALPR networks in your area by checking the FlockDetour map.
Oxford's decision to terminate the contract and remove the cameras represents a shift towards prioritizing community privacy and addressing doubts about the technology's effectiveness. The next concrete step is the physical removal of the cameras by February 2027.