08/25/2026
The Paris Police Department understands that citizens of Paris have questions about Flock Safety license plate reader (LPR) cameras. Transparency matters, and we want to clearly explain how this technology works, what it can and cannot do, as well as the benefits the cameras provide for Paris and the surrounding areas.
HISTORY OF LPR CAMERAS:
LPR Camera Technology has been in use since 1979 in The United Kingdom in response to IRA Car Bombings and has been in use in the U.S. since 1998.
BENEFITS OF FLOCK CAMERAS
The Flock camera system has helped the Paris Police Department identify, locate, and arrest suspects involved in crimes in Paris. Over the past 12 months, it has aided many criminal investigations, including homicides, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, and apprehending wanted persons.
In addition to advancing open investigations, the system has helped prevent further victimization by alerting officers when vehicles associated with known suspects enter the city. These alerts have allowed officers to locate and stop wanted individuals before they could commit additional crimes.
Sabine County Case (August 2026): https://www.kxii.com/2026/05/29/kidnapped-5-year-old-girl-rescued-near-atoka/
A missing child was reported during the early morning hours of August 16, 2026, in Sabine County, prompting an urgent cross-border search. Law enforcement tracked the suspect's vehicle across state lines into Louisiana near the Mississippi state line, where the child was safely recovered.
The Sabine County Sheriff's Office explicitly credited Sabine County Sheriff's Office and Vigilant license plate reader cameras with providing the critical tracking data needed to identify the vehicle.
The Suspect: Roger Smith Jr., a 60-year-old man from Pineland, Texas, was arrested and taken into custody.
Smith County / North Texas-Oklahoma Border Case (May 2026)
https://www.kxii.com/2026/05/29/kidnapped-5-year-old-girl-rescued-near-atoka/
A 5-year-old girl was taken in a non-custodial abduction leaving Smith County, Texas, by 49-year-old Lexus Boyd. License plate reader cameras initially tracked the vehicle heading north into Oklahoma, while subsequent captures corrected the path when the vehicle turned back south, allowing deputies to execute a high-risk traffic stop. The Outcome: The child was safely rescued unharmed and returned to family, while the suspect faced kidnapping charges.
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) (August 1, 2026):
https://www.whsv.com/2026/08/01/deputy-uses-flock-cameras-find-missing-girl-less-than-30-minutes/
A girl who was reported missing in Ohio was found safe last weekend after a deputy used Flock license plate reader cameras to locate the suspect’s vehicle in less than 30 minutes. Lucas County Sheriff’s Office Deputy David Noonan said he input the suspect’s license-plate number in the Flock system and immediately identified a pattern showing the vehicle frequently appearing near the intersections of Holland Sylvania, Airport and McCord roads. Noonan said he planned to position himself at a halfway point between those intersections. While driving to the area, he received a notification that the vehicle was northbound on Holland Sylvania Road from Airport Road.
HOW TECHNOLOGY OPERATES
• Vehicle Signatures: Captures full or partial license plates, state names, vehicle make, model, color, and unique features like roof racks, bumper stickers, or dents.
• No Facial Recognition: Scans cars only and does NOT use biometric facial recognition or record personal audio conversations.
• Fixed Placement: Relies on solar-powered, cellular or satellite-connected stationary cameras placed along public roads and neighborhood entry points rather than live GPS tracking.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DATA RULES
• 30-Day Purge: Captured image data is automatically deleted by default after 30 days unless flagged as active evidence for an investigation.
• Search Logs: Police departments require officers to input a formal case number or documented criminal justice reason before searching the database.
• Hotlists: Systems cross-reference passing plates in real-time against state and national wanted lists (TCIC/NCIC) for stolen vehicles or missing persons.
PRIVACY AND POLICY DEBATES
Fourth Amendment Concerns: United States v. Porter (Fifth Circuit): The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed that using an LPR system on public roads does not violate the Fourth Amendment, noting drivers have no reasonable expectation of privacy for movements on public streets and that plate images fall under the "plain view" doctrine.
Fourth Amendment Expectations: In Becerra v. City of Albuquerque, No. 23-2053 (10th Cir. 2023), the Tenth Circuit ruled that an individual has no reasonable expectation of privacy in their license plate information on public roads, meaning an officer examining it does not constitute a Fourth Amendment.
• Are you being Tracked? Flock LPR Captures public vehicle info at a single point in time, not continuous movement.
• License Plates must be displayed on vehicles on public roadways in all 50 states and are not considered private from observation by law enforcement. Flock cameras allow law enforcement to capture and search that publicly visible information more efficiently.
• Is this Facial Recognition? No – Flock only captures vehicles, not biometric data or faces.
• Are FLOCK cameras used for the enforcement of traffic violations? No. These cameras are not “Red Light” Cameras or automated speed-enforcement cameras. PPD uses LPR Cameras as an investigative tool to help locate vehicles associated with crimes , wanted people, or public safety alerts.
• How long is Flock LPR Data Retained at Paris, Texas ? 30-days
• How is Flock Data Protected? Paris PD has complete ownership and control of its data, and the data is only shared with other law enforcement agencies on a reciprocal sharing basis.
• Private FLOCK customers cannot access law enforcement LPR data but can share their Flock data with LEA’s (Retail Businesses, Shopping Centers, Neighborhood Associations, Schools etc…. )
• There are several LPR companies in the U.S. that have been operational for well over 20 years. FLOCK is just one company that has gained recent popularity.
• FLOCK does not sell customer data. Customers control sharing of their LPR Data by request on an agency-by-agency basis.
• Over 30 courts at State and Federal Level have ruled that LPR systems do not violate the 4th amendment or any other constitutional right, including a Federal 5th Circuit Court.
• Does the City monitor where residents travel? No. Flock LPR is used as an investigative tool to identify vehicles connected to calls for service, criminal investigations, wanted persons, or other legitimate laws.
enforcement investigative or operational purposes. It is NOT used to create a record of residents’ daily travel habits.
• What safeguards are in place to prevent misuse? PPD has established multiple layers of oversight to help ensure that the Flock system is used appropriately. Access to the system is limited to authorized personnel for law enforcement purposes, and every search is logged and reviewed through regular compliance audits in accordance with departmental policy.
