FlockWatch Check my area
Independent tracker · Last updated Aug 17, 2026

Your license plate gets read every day. Do you know who's watching?

Flock Safety cameras are scanning plates in thousands of cities across the U.S. — from highways to homeowner associations. FlockWatch tracks where those cameras are, whether they're legal in your state, and which cities are fighting back. Every data point links to a public source.

📍 Find cameras near me Check legality by state
We never collect or store your license plate or location data Every incident cited to a public source Not affiliated with Flock Safety
23+
jurisdictions have canceled or ended Flock contracts
Source: NewsNation, Aug 2026
20+
cameras reported stolen or vandalized in recent weeks
Sources: StarTribune, Fox9, Aug 2026
50
states tracked for legality & deployment status
State pages rolling out now · see below
0
license plates or location data collected by us
Privacy by design — see About & sources
Live map

Where Flock cameras are — and where they're being fought

Reported Flock camera locations and incidents, compiled from public records, news reports and open data. This map is maintained continuously — it does not go stale like a news article.

Winona, MN — All 8 Flock cameras stolenEdina, MN — 6 cameras vandalizedDuluth, MN — 6 cameras vandalizedPismo Beach, CA — Arrest for damaging camerasMonterey County, CA — Cameras vandalizedDes Moines, IA — Backlash & vandalism reported
Cameras stolen Cameras vandalized Arrest related to vandalism Local pushback / backlash reported
Data verified: Aug 17, 2026 · Sources linked below in the incident log
Check your area

Are Flock cameras in your state?

Pick your state to see what's reported there — deployments, legal action and recent incidents. Works entirely in your browser: nothing you type here is sent to a server or stored.

State by state

Are Flock cameras legal in your state?

There is no single national rule: ALPR law varies wildly by state. This board tracks reported status — deployments, local bans, legislation and incidents — and is updated as news breaks. Tags reflect what's reported, not legal advice.

California
Legislation & data-sharing debate
In the news
Minnesota
Cameras stolen in Winona, Edina, Duluth
Incidents
Illinois
City ordered removal of cameras
Local action
Iowa
Communities report pushback
Pushback
Florida
Wide deployment, growing debate
Watching
Texas
Heavy deployment reported
Watching
Idaho
High relative search interest
Watching
Montana
High relative search interest
Watching
North Dakota
High relative search interest
Watching
South Dakota
High relative search interest
Watching
Nebraska
High relative search interest
Watching
Virginia
Communities push back; 526 scans of one driver
Pushback
All 50 states →
Incident log

What's happening with Flock cameras right now

A continuously updated log of bans, thefts, vandalism and legal moves — every entry links to the original reporting. This is the data journalists cite.

Aug 2026
All 8 Flock cameras stolen in Winona, Minnesota — police say the cameras remain missing; the theft is part of a wider pushback across the country. Fox9 · Post Bulletin · Mashable
Aug 2026
Vandalism wave hits Minnesota cities — 8 cameras in Winona, 6 in Edina and 6 in Duluth were hit; a man was charged in a related case. StarTribune · Kansas City Star
Aug 2026
California man arrested for damaging Flock Safety cameras in Monterey County, after allegedly running over cameras near Pismo Beach. ABC30 · CBS SF
Aug 2026
23 jurisdictions have canceled Flock contracts as scrutiny grows nationwide. NewsNation
Aug 2026
Illinois city orders removal of law-breaking Flock cameras — an example of local government pushing back on unauthorized installations. SlashGear · Quartz
Aug 2026
Iowa communities report backlash against Flock cameras, including vandalism. Des Moines Register
Aug 2026
Florida debate grows — 10 facts about Flock cameras in Florida and why they're controversial, as protests and legal questions mount. USA Today · Jacksonville.com
Mar 2026
Out-of-state police access Silicon Valley license plate readers — a California data sharing controversy that keeps the legality debate alive. US News · AP
FAQ

Quick answers

Do Flock cameras track speed?
No. Flock cameras are automatic license plate readers (ALPR): they photograph a plate, record the time and location, and match it against databases. They are not radar speed cameras. Speed enforcement requires a separate system — don't confuse the two.
What exactly do Flock cameras record?
Primarily a license plate image, the timestamp, and the location, plus vehicle descriptors (make, model, color). Whether a jurisdiction stores that data for 30 days, 90 days or longer is set by local policy and law — which is why the state legality board exists.
Are Flock cameras legal in my state?
It depends entirely on your state and city. Some states restrict how long plate data can be stored, some are debating limits, and a growing number of cities have ordered cameras removed or ended their contracts. Check the state board for what's reported in your state.
How do I find out if my city uses Flock cameras?
Ask your local police department directly, file a public records (FOIA) request, check council meeting minutes, and use community tools like the open-source DeFlock project. Our map compiles reported locations and is updated continuously.
Do you collect my license plate or location data?
No — never. This site runs entirely in your browser for lookups, we run no trackers, and we store nothing about you. Our privacy policy is a single sentence: we don't collect anything.
Trust & transparency

Why you can trust this data

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Sourced, not scraped

Every incident, ban and legal move links to the original public report — news, court documents or government records. Nothing here is anonymous gossip.

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Continuously updated

News articles go stale the day they're published. This tracker is updated as new bans, thefts and legislation break — that's the whole point.

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Privacy by design

We collect nothing. No accounts, no cookies for tracking, no license plates, no location data from you. If a tool on this site asks for your location, it stays on your device.

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Independent & neutral

FlockWatch is an independent project with no affiliation to Flock Safety, any police agency, or any advocacy group. We report what's documented and flag what isn't.

Questions, corrections or a tip about a camera in your area? support@flockcameratracker.com — we verify everything before it goes live.