Lawmakers Seek PA Flock Camera Ban

HARRISBURG, PA — A coalition of Pennsylvania lawmakers is seeking to ban what they consider to be an unreasonable invasion of a motorists's privacy: Automated License Plate Readers, also known as Flock cameras.

Placed along roadways, Flock cameras capture vehicle events, including license plates, vehicle characteristics, and the time and location a vehicle passed a camera.The cameras can create a profile of someone's car to know their location at a specific date and time.

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Democratic state representatives Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia; Jessica Benham and Joe McAndrew, both of Allegheny County and Brandon Dukes of Butler County plan to introduce legislation that would prohibit Flock cameras throughout the state.

The lawmakers contended the legislation is necessary to protect Pennsylvanians from a surveillance state where their movements constantly are tracked.

The ban would not apply to Pennsylvania Turnpike cameras that are used solely for toll collection purposes.

"While ALPRs were created with some good intentions in preventing crime, they have often been forced upon communities without their knowledge and have invaded their privacy. In addition, these systems are typically operated without the checks that are provided by our court system," the lawmakers stated collectively in a memo to colleagues this week.

The legislators asserted that not only do ALPRs violate privacy rights by tracking people without their consent or a warrant, but the system is ripe for misuse by those who can access these cameras. They noted that there have been several documented cases of police officers using ALPRs to stalk people, including former romantic partners.

"As more law enforcement agencies and other private entities implement these systems, instances of abuse will only continue to grow, and it is of paramount importance that we protect Pennsylvanians' privacy from this threat," the memo stated. "In fact, Florida recently took the step of banning all license plate readers on state-maintained roads."

Gov. Josh Shapiro said last month that he would support bipartisan legislation that would ban Flock cameras across the state.

"This is not something I support," Shapiro said. while speaking at a public safety event in Montgomery County. "This is not something in the public interest. I think law enforcement needs to have tools to keep communities safe. Flock cameras are not a tool that I support."