Princeton resident petitions to ban license plate readers

16 August 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

Chris Potts, a biotech CEO and Princeton resident, launched an online petition calling on the town council to take three actions: ban Flock Safety cameras, publicly disclose the locations of any existing cameras and data-sharing agreements, and require a public hearing before introducing similar surveillance technology. The petition had accumulated 119 signatures as of mid-August 2026. Potts argues that license plate reader technology, while intended for public safety, risks becoming part of a broader tracking network without community consent.

The effort emerged despite Princeton Police Chief Matthew Solovay stating that the department does not use Flock cameras. However, police confirmed they do use automated license plate reader technology governed by New Jersey Attorney General guidelines and subject to oversight by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office and state police. Potts cited an NJ.com investigation reporting over 500 Flock cameras operating in Mercer County alone. Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company, operates in 49 states and over 6,000 communities with nearly 100,000 cameras deployed nationally. Opposition to Flock has gained traction in Austin, Texas; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Ypsilanti, Michigan, following reports of data sharing with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as allegations of misuse by officers.

Law enforcement supporters argue that plate readers help recover stolen vehicles and identify wanted suspects. Potts seeks an ordinance prohibiting Flock cameras and barring university campus police from deploying them on public streets, while requiring transparency and public input before comparable technology adoption. The petition reflects a broader tension between community safety and surveillance concerns. Residents in other towns can check council meeting agendas for technology contract proposals and submit public records requests to verify which surveillance systems their local police departments operate.

Read the original reporting: The Cool Down.