Lynchburg pauses 15 Flock license plate cameras

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

The Lynchburg Police Department paused operation of 15 fixed Flock Safety license plate reader cameras located on city rights-of-way on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Captain Lisa Singleton announced the decision in response to concerns raised by elected officials and residents. The pause affects cameras deployed across the city's public areas.

The decision followed public discussion at a city council meeting on July 14, 2026, where concerns about the technology were aired. Councilman Martin Misjuns and representatives from the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association participated in that discussion. The specific nature of residents' and officials' concerns was not detailed in available reports, though such discussions typically center on privacy, data retention, and surveillance scope.

This pause creates an opportunity for the public to review how Lynchburg uses automated license plate reader technology. Residents can now request records about the department's justification for the pause, any formal policy changes, and the status of the existing Flock contract. The decision may also prompt review of how data collected before the pause is being retained and used.

Citizens in other Virginia cities should check whether their own police departments operate similar camera networks and whether council meetings have addressed ALPR technology, either before or after any pause or policy shift.

Read the original reporting: NewsAdvance.com.