Flock camera & ALPR guides
Plain-language explainers on ALPR cameras, license plate tracking law, and the surveillance landscape in the United States — how the cameras work, what happens to the data they capture, and what courts and state legislatures have actually said about it. Every factual claim on this site links to a real, checkable source, and where we couldn't independently verify a specific detail, the article says so instead of guessing.
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Mapping ALPR Cameras on OpenStreetMap
No agency publishes a complete list of ALPR cameras. Here's how volunteer OpenStreetMap mapping, led by the DeFlock project, is filling that gap.
March 16, 2026
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How Long Do Police Keep ALPR Data?
Retention periods for automated license plate reader data range from three minutes to indefinitely. Here's what drives that range.
March 9, 2026
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Can You Opt Out of ALPR Tracking?
There's no consumer opt-out button for ALPR. Here's what options actually exist, and where your energy is better spent.
March 2, 2026
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ALPR vs. Red-Light & Traffic Cameras
Why the camera on your intersection might be a red-light camera, a speed camera, or an ALPR — and why the distinction matters for your privacy.
February 23, 2026
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How Flock Safety's Camera Network Works
A breakdown of Flock Safety's Falcon cameras, Vehicle Fingerprint tech, and the lookup network connecting thousands of local police departments.
February 16, 2026
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Are Flock Cameras Legal in Your State?
Flock cameras are legal in most of the US, but the rules vary by state. Which states have passed laws regulating ALPR, what those laws cover, and where yours stands.
February 2, 2026
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Your Rights on License Plate Tracking
What the Fourth Amendment does and doesn't say about license plate readers, and how courts have ruled on ALPR surveillance so far.
January 19, 2026
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What Is an ALPR Camera? How It Works
A plain-language guide to automated license plate readers (ALPR): what the cameras capture, how the data moves, and who ends up seeing it.
January 12, 2026