Santa Barbara has opted not to renew its contract for Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, ending the city's use of the surveillance technology due to widespread resident concerns over privacy. The city's contract with Flock Safety expired on August 23, leaving Santa Barbara without ALPR cameras for the time being.
The decision came after residents voiced strong objections, citing fears that the data collected could be shared with federal immigration authorities and that the technology could be misused to stalk individuals. "We've seen across the country how this technology can be abused, misused, and target members of our community," resident Eric Boser told the City Council.
Police Chief Kelly Gordon stated that the 12 Flock cameras, in use since late 2023, had aided in investigations, including locating stolen cars, identifying suspect vehicles, and solving serious crimes. Gordon reported an 11% increase in solved violent crime cases and a 9% rise in solved hit-and-run cases since the cameras were implemented.
Despite the law enforcement benefits, the council chose not to immediately sign a contract with an alternative surveillance company, Verkada. Instead, council members directed a review of the city's policy governing ALPRs. "Privacy concerns are not going away, they continue to grow," said Councilmember Meagan Harmon. "And it's important that we continue to have iterative conversations about our use of technology in Santa Barbara."
Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon expressed broader concerns about data breaches and the potential for data misuse beyond local police control, including federal and regional overreach. "No matter how much we think we have control of that data, I just don't think we do," she stated.
Flock Safety cameras capture license plate images and associated vehicle characteristics, but police confirmed they do not perform facial recognition. This was highlighted when a stolen Flock camera could not be used to identify the suspect because it does not capture faces.
Santa Barbara joins a growing list of California cities, including Los Angeles and Mountain View, that have suspended or ended their use of license-plate reading cameras as the debate over privacy and public safety intensifies. The city council is expected to formally direct the city administrator not to sign a Verkada contract and to proceed with the ALPR policy review, with that process likely concluding in early 2027.