Why are some U.S. cities canceling ALPR contracts now?

Cities cite ALPR privacy concerns, unclear data-sharing pathways, and immigration enforcement data risks. Councils are also reacting to vandalism, uptime gaps, and legal pressure to limit retention and external queries. Together, these issues reduce trust, complicate prosecutions, and raise program costs, pushing leaders to pause, renegotiate, or terminate contracts to meet community standards and legal duties.

Are Flock Safety cameras illegal in the United States?

No. Flock Safety cameras are legal in many jurisdictions, but their use is governed by state and local rules. Cities must set policies on retention, sharing, and access. New bills may tighten those rules. Programs that lack audits, clear search limits, and deletion schedules face higher legal risk, which can lead to contract changes or cancellations.

Do ALPR systems help solve crimes despite privacy concerns?

They can generate leads on stolen vehicles, warrants, and specific cases when tightly governed. Benefits drop when hardware is vandalized, data is stale, or access controls are weak. Clear policies, quick repair cycles, and strong auditing improve outcomes. Without those measures, evidence can be challenged, and councils may judge the tradeoffs as not worth the operational or legal risk.

What should investors watch to assess vendor resilience?

Track renewal rates, uptime, repair speed after vandalism, and third-party security attestations. Review contract language on data retention, immigration-related restrictions, and service credits. Watch state legislation and whether vendors can update settings quickly to comply. Strong compliance dashboards and documented controls are positives, while rising discounts and shorter terms can signal mounting churn risk.

Law and Government

February 25: Flock Camera Backlash Grows as Cities Cancel Contracts

ByDanny Kontos February 25, 2026February 25, 2026

Flock Safety cameras are under sharper scrutiny as U.S. cities revisit license plate reader deals. On February 25, Lynnwood, Washington moved to terminate its contract after questions over out-of-state searches and immigration enforcement data. Reports also cite rising vandalism and city contract cancellations since late 2025. For investors in public-safety tech, the mix of ALPR privacy concerns, legal pressure, and field reliability points to slower growth, higher compliance costs, and tighter procurement terms. We outline what changed, key risks, and practical signals to track.