Multiple police departments throughout Washington state have deactivated their automated license plate reader cameras following a recent court decision affirming public access rights to the data these systems collect.

Law enforcement agencies in Stanwood and Sedro-Woolley disabled their camera systems prior to the November 6 ruling issued by Skagit County Superior Court. Following the decision, additional jurisdictions including Redmond, Lynnwood, and Skamania County also powered down their devices, as reported by The Seattle Times on Tuesday.

The controversy centers on Automated License Plate Readers
manufactured by Flock Safety and whether information captured by these devices falls under the requirements of Washington’s Public Records Act, making it accessible to the public.

Court documents and reporting from the Times indicate that Walla Walla-based tattoo artist Jose Rodriguez submitted public records requests to approximately 50 government agencies across Washington, seeking ALPR photographs and associated data. Rodriguez subsequently filed legal action against 10 municipalities, including Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood, which declined to provide the requested images and information.

Rodriguez explained his motivation to the Times, stating that while government entities cannot place tracking devices on individuals without proper authorization, these camera systems essentially accomplish the same surveillance function.

In her decision, Judge Elizabeth Neidzwski determined that photographs produced by Flock cameras constitute public records. The judge noted that these images are generated and utilized to serve governmental objectives and are funded by and created for the municipalities’ benefit, justifying their classification as public records.

These ALPR systems are designed as public safety instruments, automatically notifying law enforcement personnel and analysts when vehicles connected to criminal investigations, missing persons cases, vehicle thefts, or other significant incidents are identified in their coverage areas.

The technology operates without employing facial recognition capabilities or conducting random surveillance. According to protocol, captured images and associated data are purged from Flock’s cloud storage platform after 30 days.

Flock Safety maintains that privacy concerns surrounding its technology lack merit, noting that its cameras photograph vehicles traveling on public streets where privacy expectations do not exist. The company has expressed support for legislative amendments to Washington’s Public Records Act.

Privacy rights advocates counter that such technology enables widespread surveillance capabilities. Research published last month by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights revealed that U.S. Border Patrol conducted searches of Flock Safety databases maintained by 18 Washington law enforcement agencies this year. This practice potentially conflicts with the state’s “Keep Washington Working Act,” which prohibits most state agencies from assisting immigration enforcement operations.

The Redmond Police Department began implementing ALPR cameras during the summer months but deactivated them in early November. This action followed the arrest of seven individuals by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, raising questions about whether ICE had gained access to the city’s Flock database.

A separate incident in Redmond involved the detention of a local resident after police responded to an alert generated by a Flock camera. According to KING 5’s reporting, the system incorrectly identified the man’s vehicle as being linked to his son, who has the same name and was subject to a felony warrant.

The Redmond Police Department had announced in August its plans to install these automated readers at strategic locations throughout the city as part of enhanced public safety measures. The technology was promoted as a tool to assist officers in identifying vehicles of interest without conducting random surveillance or utilizing facial recognition systems.

The ongoing debate highlights tensions between law enforcement agencies seeking technological tools for public safety and concerns about government surveillance, data accessibility, and privacy protections for residents traveling on public roadways throughout Washington state.