At this point, Flock automatic license plate readers are basically a 90-10 issue in the US. In fact, so many Americans hate these surveillance towers that hacking one down has become the quickest way to achieve national folk-hero status.
In one incident reported by the Verge, a sheriff in Lumpkin County, Georgia announced a $1,000 reward for information resulting in the arrest of the vandal responsible for destroying a Flock camera installed in a community park.
“I hope you’re happy with this. It was to keep our kids safe,” the sheriff said in a Reel uploaded to Facebook.
Since uploading the video on August 17, the clip has garnered over one million views — in addition to over 30,000 comments admonishing the sheriff and praising the vandal.
“Kudos to the citizen that threw tea in the harbor!” one comment with over 1,700 likes cheered.
The support for Flock vigilantes doesn’t just live online. Last week, a grand jury in Ohio refused to bring felony charges against a man accused of destroying an ALPR, despite the fact that he was caught on video doing so.
And as the Verge notes, the public backlash is forcing police departments to concede. In one cluster of towns in Wisconsin, a decision by one city to non-renew its contract with Flock led to a domino-effect of nearby towns pulling down their ALRPs as well.
Basically, police felt that fewer Flock cameras in surrounding communities cheapened their own networks — proof positive that quashing one police department’s ALPR plans is an important step for anybody interested in driving the surveillance devices out of their homes for good.
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