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Deflock GRStop mass surveillance

Communities taking action

Precedents

Grand Rapids would not be the first community to say no. These jurisdictions have restricted, defunded, or declined to renew Flock Safety and other ALPR surveillance contracts, each decision documented with its official record.

Dane County, Wisconsin

Dane County votes to defund its Flock ALPR system

On April 16, 2026, the Dane County (WI) Board of Supervisors approved resolution 2025 RES-403, amending the 2026 budget to remove the $80,000 funding for the Sheriff's Office Flock automated license plate reader system and prohibiting further spending on it. Supervisors cited Fourth Amendment concerns and Flock's data-sharing practices, noting the Sheriff's Office could not confirm that Flock or partner agencies were not misusing the data. Board Chair Patrick Miles said the county remained open to vendors with stronger privacy safeguards. The decision meant the existing subscription, which ran through May 31, 2026, would not be renewed.

Michigan connection

Dane County's 24 Flock cameras shared access with more than 140 law enforcement agencies across multiple states, including Michigan. Data collected in Wisconsin was flowing to Michigan agencies, showing the ALPR network's reach extends directly into our state.

Sources: Dane County Board of Supervisors press release, April 16, 2026Resolution 2025 RES-403 (Dane County Legistar) (link pending)
Bay City, Michigan

Bay City rejects a Flock license plate reader contract

On November 17, 2025, the Bay City Commission voted 6-2 to reject a proposed two-year contract with Flock Safety, worth about $84,150, that would have installed automated license plate reader cameras at busy intersections. The vote followed strong public opposition, including a presentation from the American Civil Liberties Union and testimony from residents concerned about mass surveillance and data misuse. Flock Safety told commissioners the cameras capture single still images rather than live video and pointed to uses such as solving crimes and Amber Alerts. A related budget-reallocation resolution was referred to staff. Reporting varied on the exact camera count, described as roughly 10 to 13 units.

Michigan connection

Bay City is a Michigan city, which makes this the strongest kind of precedent: an in-state government body reviewed a Flock proposal and voted it down. Communities in our own state are already refusing these contracts.

Sources: mlive, November 2025Bay City Commission meeting minutes, November 17, 2025 (link pending)

Grand Rapids can be next

Other communities reviewed the record and chose to walk away. Ask the City Commission to do the same.

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