Auburn voters to decide on ALPR camera ban in 2027

23 September 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

Auburn city councilors voted Monday to reject the immediate adoption of a citizen-led petition calling for a ban on automatic license plate readers, instead sending the measure to a special election scheduled for early 2027. The vote advances a proposal that emerged after residents discovered police had installed Flock Safety cameras in summer 2025 without prior public knowledge or formal announcement.

The petition reflects growing local concern about surveillance technology deployment. Supporters characterize the ban as a necessary check on government surveillance capabilities. The city attorney, however, raised objections to the proposed ban's language, arguing that it could inadvertently restrict Auburn police access to other law enforcement databases beyond the automatic license plate reader system itself. The council's decision to put the question to voters rather than adopt it immediately suggests disagreement over the proposal's scope and implications.

The special election will occur within four to six months from the council's September vote. Residents will cast the deciding vote on whether Auburn should prohibit the use of automatic license plate readers, potentially requiring the police department to decommission the Flock system that prompted the petition.

For records requests in Auburn and other Maine communities, residents can obtain police equipment inventories, ALPR contract terms, and city council meeting minutes discussing surveillance technology adoption. Checking municipal websites for special election notices and reviewing council agendas can help track whether similar technology decisions are scheduled for public vote in your town.

Read the original reporting: WGME.