MILFORD, CT — Milford Mayor Rich Smith announced that he is recommending the city "adopt significant changes" to its policy on automated traffic enforcement cameras and automated license plate readers.
Smith said in a statement he is "seeking to suspend the operational use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices pending a comprehensive review" of the city's program.
The suspension is intended to give the city time to address issues that the public has brought up about the cameras, including hours of enforcement, fines, subsequent violations, citation and hearing procedures and citations involving leased or rented vehicles.
Smith also said he has "directed the suspension of all automated license plate readers... with the exception of those located at the City's entry points."
The remaining license plate readers "will enable law enforcement to keep our community safe by alerting them when stolen cars, wanted persons or suspected sex traffickers enter Milford."
These cameras would also serve as a tool for be-on-the-lookout calls and Amber Alerts, according to Smith.
He will make the recommendations at a Board of Aldermen special meeting Thursday, Aug. 27. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, and the board will consider a moratorium on the use of both kinds of cameras, according to the meeting agenda.
Milford's use of automated cameras has become the subject of a broader debate over privacy and public safety in recent months.
Related: Milford Republican Aldermen Call For Swift Resolution To Flock Camera Controversy
The controversy has largely centered on Flock Safety license plate readers, which record license plates along with information such as where and when a vehicle was captured.
Residents packed a Board of Aldermen and a subsequent public forum to raise concerns about privacy, transparency and how data collected from people who are not suspected of crimes may be used or shared. After hours of public comment, aldermen voted 8-6 to table a proposed resolution that would pause the use, installation or expansion of Flock cameras and other surveillance devices while the city conducts a 90-day review.
Police Chief Keith Mello has defended the license plate readers, saying they have helped police identify stolen vehicles and investigate serious crimes. Mello said access is restricted, searches require a legal basis and case or event number, and activity is audited. He also said the department reduced its data retention period from 30 days to 21 days and does not share data nationwide.
The Flock license plate readers are separate from Milford's automated traffic enforcement program. The city also operates speed cameras and has installed red-light cameras, including three that began operating in July at High Street and Boston Post Road and North Street and Boston Post Road.
Three Milford Democrats — state Rep. MJ Shannon; Toni Lombardi, a candidate for state representative in the 118th District, and Alex Armstrong, a candidate for state representative in the 119th District — issued a statement on their opposition to Flock Safety cameras and similar devices.
The three announced their intention to introduce legislation to prohibit the technology statewide.
The candidates said they have significant concerns and have heard from residents regarding contracts and the scope of the technology, as well as questions about how information collected on the public can be stored, accessed and shared.
"Public safety and personal privacy are not opposing values, and we should reject the idea that we have to sacrifice one to protect the other," Shannon said in the statement. "I strongly support our law enforcement officers and making sure they have the technology, staffing, and resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. But those tools must come with accountability and clear protections for the people they serve."
Two of the state's top Democratic legislators also support a pause on the cameras, asking cities and towns to voluntarily pause installing new license plate reader cameras while they prepare legislation to strengthen privacy protections.
Read more: Flock Camera Expansion Could Pause As Top CT Democrats Push Privacy Changes
A Milford man is also accused of damaging the Flock cameras in a vandalism incident. He reportedly targeted the cameras because he believed the technology was unconstitutional and had privacy concerns.
Read more: Milford Man Accused Of Damaging Flock Cameras Over Privacy Concerns: Police
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the party affiliation of Shannon, Lombardi and Armstrong.
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