New Hanover County commissioners cancel contract with Flock cameras

New Hanover County commissioners cancel contract with Flock cameras NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners has voted unanimously to cancel the county's contract for Flock automated license plate reader cameras. Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday following a closed-door meeting and discussion about concerns raised by residents regarding privacy and the use of the technology. Flock cameras are specialized automated license plate readers that capture vehicle data, including license plate information. Law enforcement agencies have said the technology can help investigators locate vehicles connected to crimes. Opponents have raised concerns about privacy, surveillance and how the data collected by the system could potentially be used or misused. Commissioner Dane Scalise made the motion to cancel the county's contract for the stationary automated license plate reader cameras. Commissioner LeAnn Pierce seconded the motion. Commissioner Rob Zapple said commissioners had received significant feedback from residents and that he was uncomfortable with the surveillance capabilities of the technology. 'I am uncomfortable with the power of surveillance, mass surveillance and questions of privacy within our community, which we've heard a lot about,' Zapple said. Zapple said he initially would have preferred to pause the contract, but ultimately supported cancellation until additional safeguards could be established. Scalise said he believes the technology needs stronger protections and penalties for people who misuse it. 'We have heard from the community about their concerns and I agree that there aren't sufficient guardrails in place at present for this technology,' Scalise said. He said cancellation could be reconsidered in the future if appropriate safeguards and protections are established. Scalise also emphasized that the decision was not a criticism of New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon or his staff. 'Our sheriff's goal all along has been to protect the people of this county,' Scalise said. 'It is not his fault, it is not his staff's fault that the guardrails around this technology are not sufficient.' How many cameras are affected? County Manager Chris Coudriet said the cancellation applies specifically to the stationary ALPR cameras under the contract entered into by the sheriff. Coudriet said the county believes there are approximately 15 to 18 cameras covered by that contract. However, the cancellation will not remove every automated license plate reader operating in New Hanover County. Coudriet said other ALPR cameras operated by the state or other entities, including cameras associated with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, would remain outside the county's control. Commissioner Stephanie Walker asked about other cameras, including those along Interstate 40. Coudriet said the county's action is limited to equipment covered by the sheriff's contract and does not address ALPR technology operated by other agencies. Commissioners cite recent misuse concerns The decision comes after Sheriff McMahon gave commissioners a presentation about the Flock system Friday. It also follows a recent announcement from Brunswick County Sheriff Brian Chism that a county employee resigned after officials discovered the employee had misused the system. That incident was among the concerns discussed by New Hanover commissioners as they considered the technology's safeguards. Walker said she had received answers to questions about the system but remained concerned about the number of communities reconsidering or canceling Flock contracts. She also said privacy and surveillance concerns had been raised by people across the political spectrum. 'The word I wrote down the most was surveillance,' Walker said. 'People are very concerned with that part of it.' Pierce said commissioners had been discussing the issue with county staff and the sheriff before Tuesday's vote. She said she and Zapple met with McMahon last week to receive a detailed presentation on how the system operates. 'We did not want to move into a knee-jerk reaction before we had all the information in front of us,' Pierce said. Pierce said commissioners believe additional safeguards are needed to protect residents' privacy. 'We've heard from our folks, we know what they want, and I think it's time for us to act on that decision,' she said. What's next? Following the vote, Coudriet said he would work with Sheriff McMahon to address the cancellation and removal of the equipment covered by the contract. Commissioners said they could revisit the issue in the future if stronger safeguards and protections are established. The vote was unanimous, with all four commissioners present voting in favor of cancellation.