Residents across Orange County are increasingly voicing strong opposition to the widespread deployment of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), commonly known as Flock cameras, on street corners. Critics argue these cameras represent an invasion of privacy and raise fears that the collected data could be used to track innocent residents or be shared with federal agencies, particularly as the county continues to experience deportation sweeps.
Tanya Navarro, organizing director for Chispa, asserted that these cameras would not enhance safety for residents of Santa Ana, which is Orange County's only Sanctuary City. At a news conference last week, Navarro stated that the community never wanted this technology, which was justified by claims of increased safety from criminals. She cautioned that such justifications can lead to the criminalization of entire communities and added that it is "already an abuse to collect this data and store it," especially given the current political climate where dissent is criminalized and discrimination by federal agencies can have severe consequences.
Santa Ana Councilwoman Jessie Lopez, who is seeking election to the state assembly, has called for a review of the city's Flock contract at an upcoming city council meeting. This request follows public records obtained by The Inadvertent last month, which showed a fusion center in Northern California ran searches on Santa Ana’s ALPR system for multiple federal agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. Lopez stated that the community was promised their data would not be shared, but now it is known to be shared without consent, warrant, or knowledge. Santa Ana Councilman Ben Vazquez also stated he is calling for an audit of the Flock contract, viewing it as an infringement on privacy rights that endangers the immigrant community. Vazquez distinguished personal choice in using a cellphone from the city's installation of tracking cameras and sharing data with the government. Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez did not respond to questions regarding the fusion center's queries.
In Santa Ana, officials narrowly approved an up to $211,000 contract for Flock cameras and a nearly $500,000 contract for Motorola ALPR installation and maintenance at a May 6, 2025, council meeting. Critics, including Chispa Executive Director Isuri Ramos, contend that the Santa Ana police department failed to provide a promised presentation on the cameras' effectiveness one year after the contract's approval. Ramos, who is running for city council, emphasized the importance of officials reviewing the contract, particularly since data collected by Flock in Santa Ana has been accessed by federal agencies.
Fullerton is also facing scrutiny over its camera usage. At a 5:30 p.m. city council meeting this Tuesday, police officials are expected to present information on the city's nearly 20 Flock cameras, including their operation and success in solving crimes since their installation in 2021. This presentation comes after residents, including Keiko Suda, publicly questioned the technology in August, expressing unawareness that the cameras are privately owned, utilize advanced AI, collect data on everyone without consent or warrant, and share data with various agencies.
Conversely, elected politicians and police officials argue that ALPRs are a vital tool for law enforcement. Santa Ana Councilman Phil Bacerra, who is running for reelection, stated at the May 6, 2025, council meeting that contract safeguards are in place, and the cameras help keep residents safe, with some having called for their deployment. Bacerra noted that police, whose resources are stretched thin, can leverage this technology to improve response capabilities. He dismissed privacy concerns by pointing out that residents already use technology like smartphones and Ring cameras, implying people are already tracked daily.
Fullerton police officials assert that their 17 stationary and two mobile cameras, which have cost the city nearly a quarter-million dollars since 2021, are not used for immigration enforcement or general tracking. They claim data is deleted monthly unless required as evidence. According to officials, the cameras have led to the recovery of 274 stolen vehicles and located 18 missing people. Flock’s transparency webpage indicates Fullerton’s cameras detected nearly a million unique vehicles and flagged nearly 5,000 in the past month. The city's data is accessible to numerous law enforcement agencies statewide, including the same fusion center that accessed Santa Ana's data for federal agencies. Santa Ana has 24 Flock readers that retain data for a year, detecting over 1.3 million unique vehicles in the past month, according to Flock's transparency page.
This is not the first instance of Orange County cities debating ALPR contracts. In Costa Mesa this summer, officials chose to retain their Flock contract but directed staff to renegotiate terms regarding data accessibility and collection. This decision followed an incident where a Costa Mesa police officer allegedly misused the devices to stalk women, including his wife, an ex-girlfriend, and romantic rivals.
