PETITION FOR THE REMOVAL OF FLOCK SAFETY CAMERAS IN FENTON

To: The City of Fenton, Fenton Police Department, Fenton City Council, and Other Relevant Public Officials

We, the undersigned Fenton residents and community members, are requesting that the City of Fenton discontinue its use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras and remove these cameras from our community.

We support keeping Fenton safe. Our concern is with using a system that routinely collects vehicle information from people traveling throughout our community, including residents who are simply going about their everyday lives.

We are especially concerned about Flock cameras positioned near residential areas. One such camera is positioned toward the entrance of our apartment community, where vehicles belonging to residents, visitors, family members, delivery drivers, service providers, and others may regularly pass within its view.

Our apartment community and its management are not the subject of this petition. This petition concerns the use and placement of Flock Safety cameras within Fenton and asks our local government to reconsider whether this level of automated surveillance is appropriate for our community.

Our Concerns

1. Routine collection of vehicle information

Automated license plate readers can record information about vehicles traveling past them, including license plates, location, and the date and time a vehicle was observed. This means information can be collected from ordinary community members regardless of whether they are suspected of wrongdoing.

2. Cameras near residential areas

We are particularly concerned about cameras positioned near entrances to neighborhoods, apartment communities, and other residential areas. These locations can result in repeated collection of vehicle information associated with the people who live there and those who visit them.

3. Privacy and freedom of movement

Residents should be able to travel to and from their homes and throughout their community without feeling that their movements are being routinely documented by an automated license plate reader network.

4. Transparency and accountability

Fenton residents deserve clear information about:

• How many Flock Safety cameras are operating in Fenton and where they are located
• Who owns and operates each camera
• How placement decisions are made
• What information is collected
• How long that information is retained
• Who can search or access the information
• Which agencies or organizations may receive or share the information
• What policies, audits, and oversight govern the system
• How much the system costs taxpayers

What We Are Asking For

We respectfully request that the City of Fenton and Fenton Police Department:

1. Discontinue the use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras in Fenton and remove the existing cameras.
2. Prioritize the removal of cameras positioned toward or immediately adjacent to residential neighborhoods, apartment communities, and residential entrances.
3. Provide the public with complete information about Fenton’s current Flock Safety program, including the number and placement of cameras, costs, contracts, data-retention practices, access policies, sharing practices, and participating agencies.
4. Require meaningful public notice, discussion, and community input before Fenton considers implementing similar automated surveillance technology in the future.

Our request is not a rejection of public safety. It is a request for Fenton to pursue public safety in ways that respect the privacy and everyday movements of the people who live here.

By signing below, I support ending the use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras in Fenton and removing them from our community, with particular urgency given to cameras positioned near residential areas.