Flock Safety cameras record vehicle observations—not a driver’s identity or a continuous video of every trip. An observation can include a license-plate image, vehicle characteristics, a timestamp, and the camera’s location identifier. How long the record remains searchable and which agencies can access it depend on the customer’s settings, current vendor terms, local policy, and applicable law.
What data do Flock cameras collect?
Flock describes its automated license plate reader (ALPR) records as including a plate image, vehicle characteristics, the date and time, and a camera location identifier. In practical terms, a record can show that a vehicle with particular visible characteristics was observed at a particular place and time. It does not, by itself, establish who was driving or document a person’s full journey. Flock’s Trust Center describes these data fields.
Authorized users can search observations across participating cameras when they have permission to query the relevant data. That makes the system a searchable record of vehicle sightings, rather than evidence that a specific person was present. Flock’s broader privacy policy covers its services more generally; do not assume that every type of evidence handled by its platform, such as video or audio, is part of an ALPR record.
How long does Flock keep license plate data?
There is no single retention period that applies to every Flock deployment. In an August 13, 2026 report, the Associated Press said Flock had announced a change to a seven-day standard retention window, down from 30 days, with longer preservation for data tied to a case number. The AP also reported that law-enforcement customers would need to implement an audit tool by January 1, 2027; that date had not yet arrived as of October 4, 2026, so the reported deadline should not be treated as proof that every customer has implemented the tool. Read the Associated Press report.
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- SMARTER SECURITY – Query and review license plate details professionally on a PC using a web browser. Works with most standard web browsers however for an optimal experience it is recommended to use Microsoft Edge in IE mode as the camera may require the use of a .exe plugin. Supports storage to a MicroSD Card (up to 256GB), PC/Windows only supports SFTP, IE mode in Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Chrome (limited query options).
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Local rules and contracts can differ from that announced standard. For example, Palo Alto’s published ALPR page describes a 30-day limit, while Oklahoma City’s page describes a local change from 30 days to seven days. These are examples of local arrangements, not a survey of all Flock customers. Palo Alto’s ALPR page and Oklahoma City’s Flock LPR page explain those jurisdictions’ practices.
Ordinary retention versus preserving evidence
A rolling retention window is different from keeping a record because it is relevant to a case. Flock’s evidence policy says a customer may seek an extended retention period of up to one year, when an extension is not already required by jurisdictional law; the policy conditions extensions on approval by an elected official and/or governing body. That is a conditional maximum, not a promise that every record can be kept for a year. Check the current policy, contract, and local law for the deployment in question. Flock Evidence Policy.
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Who can see or search Flock camera data?
Flock says customers control sharing settings, and its privacy materials describe authorized law-enforcement searches as requiring a justification and generating an audit trail. In practice, access depends on which agencies or users have permission to query a deployment’s data, the agreements governing those connections, and the laws and policies that apply. Vendor descriptions of controls should not be read as a guarantee that unauthorized or legally disputed access has never occurred. Flock’s Trust Center and its privacy policy describe its stated approach.
Local policies show what those controls can look like, but they are not nationwide defaults. Palo Alto says access is limited to properly trained staff with a legitimate law-enforcement need, searches are logged and audited, and sharing with other agencies requires memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The city says it began proactively publishing partially redacted search logs monthly on April 21, 2026. Oklahoma City describes access for authorized, trained police employees with a legitimate need and an Audit Assist system that flags unusual patterns. Consult each city’s current policy for the details and any changes.
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- LPR-- License Plate Recognition IP Network PoE Camera.
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Can police share Flock data with other agencies?
Sharing may allow another agency to search records or receive data, but the exact arrangement depends on the customer’s permissions, agreements, system configuration, and applicable law. A local policy may require an MOU or other approval; the presence of a Flock system alone does not establish which outside agencies can query it. To understand a specific deployment, look for its sharing list, agreements, and policy language—not just a general vendor description.
There is also a documented compliance concern. In an August 25, 2025 announcement, the Illinois Secretary of State said an office audit found that U.S. Customs and Border Protection had gained access to Illinois license-plate camera data in violation of state law. That is the state office’s reported audit finding about Illinois; it does not establish the configuration or legal status of every Flock deployment. Illinois Secretary of State announcement.
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How to find out whether your city uses Flock cameras
Start with the local agency responsible for the cameras, often the police department, and look for its ALPR or Flock policy and public-information pages. Then check the city’s procurement or council records for a contract, approval, or renewal. If those materials do not answer the question, ask the agency or city clerk for the current policy, contract, retention schedule, list of agencies authorized to share or search data, applicable MOUs, and available audit or search-log disclosures.
Use those records to compare the parts that determine how the system operates:
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- Professional License Plate Recognition (LPR): This LPR Camera captures and reads vehicle plates accurately day and night. Ideal for parking lots, toll stations, and access control.
- Utral Low Light & 120dB WDR: Equipped with a 1/1.8" sensor and advanced low-light technology. Delivers sharp license plate images even under headlight glare or complete darkness.
- 4MP@30fps & 8-32mm 4x Motorized Zoom Lens: Records smooth 2592×1520 video at 30fps. Remote 4x auto focus zoom via web browser. Recommended ANPR distance: 23-98ft.
- 256GB SD Card Slot & IP67 IK10: Supports storage up to 256GB. Metal housing is weatherproof (IP67) and vandal-resistant (IK10) for outdoor use.
- Compatibility: Only supports TVT NVRs, not other NVRs.Please refer to the manual and video instructions for operation. If there are any issues, we provide 24/7 professional technical support.
- Data collected: Which fields are recorded, and are the rules about plate images or vehicle characteristics distinct from video or other evidence?
- Retention: What is the ordinary deletion window, and what conditions govern case-related holds or extensions?
- Access and sharing: Which users and outside agencies can search or receive data, and what agreements or legal limits apply?
- Oversight: Are searches justified and logged, how often are logs audited, and what happens after misuse?
- Public transparency: Does the agency publish its policy, sharing agreements, or redacted audit records?
These details are more useful than a vendor-wide retention or privacy summary because they identify the rules in force for the local deployment.
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