Quincy City Council Tables Decision on Flock License Plate Readers Amidst Privacy Concerns
The Quincy City Council has postponed a decision regarding the continued use of Flock automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) following a public rally outside Quincy City Hall. Dozens of residents gathered to voice privacy concerns and demand greater oversight of the surveillance technology. Police Chief Mark Kennedy defended the cameras as an important investigative tool, highlighting existing restrictions on their use, such as limiting access to 50 out of 240 officers and requiring searches to be tied to investigations within city limits. Despite these assurances, the council opted to table the issue for further consideration. Over 700,000 license plates were scanned in Quincy in recent weeks, with fewer than 200 linked to actual investigations, a disparity that has fueled public pushback. The cameras capture not only license plates but also vehicle make, color, model, and visible details like bumper stickers, retaining data for seven days on a cloud server.
