Grass Valley police suspend Flock license plate cameras

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

The Grass Valley Police Department announced an indefinite suspension of its Flock Safety automated license plate reader system during a city council meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 2026. Police Chief Alex Gammelgard cited a comprehensive review of the technology and community input as reasons for the decision. The department examined concerns including warrantless collection and access of information, data control and security, privacy protections, data retention periods, use of data for product development, and sharing of information with government and non-government entities. Gammelgard characterized ALPR issues as potential Fourth Amendment concerns.

The Grass Valley City Council originally approved ALPR use in 2021 by a 5-0 vote, viewing the technology as a tool to address violent crime and retail theft. In May 2026, dozens of residents and privacy advocates protested the Flock contract at a council meeting, preceding the department's review. The suspension decision was met with applause from council members and residents present at the August meeting, though some community members stated the review should have occurred before the original adoption rather than years later.

The Grass Valley action occurs as Flock Safety cameras have expanded across the Greater Sacramento region, including in Elk Grove, Folsom, Yolo County, and Placer County, affecting approximately 2.2 million people in Sacramento County. Other jurisdictions including Rancho Cordova have committed to multi-year Flock contracts. The decision reflects broader national debate over ALPR technology, with privacy advocates and anti-surveillance groups emerging to question the systems at local government meetings.

Residents in other communities can check their own city council records for ALPR contract approval dates, renewal timelines, and any community review processes initiated since initial adoption.

Read the original reporting: CBS News.