Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Asheville City Council could decide Tuesday whether to end the city's use of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, as city leaders weigh privacy concerns against arguments that the technology gives law enforcement another tool to investigate crimes. Asheville currently has 11 Flock cameras. If council ends the city's contract, those cameras would be removed.
The cameras capture vehicle information, including license plates, that can later be searched by law enforcement. Rondell Lance, president of the Fraternal Order of Police and a former Asheville police officer, said the information collected is limited.
"The information that it provides is very basic: car and the tag. That's all it does," he said.
But questions over what happens to that information, how it is protected and who can access it have fueled concerns about the technology. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said those concerns are part of what council must consider.
"There have been growing concerns around Flock just as a company, how they manage their data, how well it's protected, whether people's privacy is protected, how many folks have access to that data, and whether rules are being violated to access it," she said.
Lance said ending the city's use of Flock would mean losing a tool that can help officers narrow down potential suspect vehicles. He recalled investigating cases before technology like Flock was available.
"We've had calls, you know, someone just robbed a store, they're in a blue Camry. We just ride around trying to look at blue Camrys, and you can't stop every blue Camry," he said.
With Flock, Lance said investigators can search using known characteristics of a vehicle.
"With the Flock camera, you can go in there and put white Toyota, dent on the front, and it'll show every white Toyota that's passed by a Flock camera during that time period," he added.
Manheimer acknowledged that cameras can play an important role in law enforcement investigations, pointing to other technology already used by police.
"There are a lot of cameras that are used to fight crime that people really do like, which include body cameras or dash cameras or cameras that are not license plate readers but are more like security cameras," she said.
For Manheimer, the question is how the city can use technology to support public safety without going too far into people's privacy.
"I think trying to find that balancing place where we're still using technology that really helps the community stay safe versus technology that goes beyond safety and invades privacy," Manheimer said.
Flock is also not Asheville's only potential option for license plate reader technology. Manheimer said the city's existing contract with Axon, the company that provides Asheville police with body and dash cameras, also includes stationary license plate readers. None are currently installed. She said using those cameras would require the city to first work through policies and procedures governing privacy and how the technology would be used.
"What residents and the community need to know is that we hear you. We hear these concerns. We're taking steps to address them," Maheimer said.
wlos.com/news/local/asheville-city-council-vote-tuesday-ending-flock-camera-contract-august-25-2026-automatic-license-plate-readers-privacy-concerns-surveillance-technology-law-enforcement-crimes
#flock #asheville #flocksafety
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WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
Asheville City Council could decide Tuesday whether to end the city's use of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, as city leaders weigh privacy concerns against arguments that the technology gives law enforcement another tool to investigate crimes. Asheville currently has 11 Flock cameras. If council ends the city's contract, those cameras would be removed.
The cameras capture vehicle information, including license plates, that can later be searched by law enforcement. Rondell Lance, president of the Fraternal Order of Police and a former Asheville police officer, said the information collected is limited.
"The information that it provides is very basic: car and the tag. That's all it does," he said.
But questions over what happens to that information, how it is protected and who can access it have fueled concerns about the technology. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said those concerns are part of what council must consider.
"There have been growing concerns around Flock just as a company, how they manage their data, how well it's protected, whether people's privacy is protected, how many folks have access to that data, and whether rules are being violated to access it," she said.
Lance said ending the city's use of Flock would mean losing a tool that can help officers narrow down potential suspect vehicles. He recalled investigating cases before technology like Flock was available.
"We've had calls, you know, someone just robbed a store, they're in a blue Camry. We just ride around trying to look at blue Camrys, and you can't stop every blue Camry," he said.
With Flock, Lance said investigators can search using known characteristics of a vehicle.
"With the Flock camera, you can go in there and put white Toyota, dent on the front, and it'll show every white Toyota that's passed by a Flock camera during that time period," he added.
Manheimer acknowledged that cameras can play an important role in law enforcement investigations, pointing to other technology already used by police.
"There are a lot of cameras that are used to fight crime that people really do like, which include body cameras or dash cameras or cameras that are not license plate readers but are more like security cameras," she said.
For Manheimer, the question is how the city can use technology to support public safety without going too far into people's privacy.
"I think trying to find that balancing place where we're still using technology that really helps the community stay safe versus technology that goes beyond safety and invades privacy," Manheimer said.
Flock is also not Asheville's only potential option for license plate reader technology. Manheimer said the city's existing contract with Axon, the company that provides Asheville police with body and dash cameras, also includes stationary license plate readers. None are currently installed. She said using those cameras would require the city to first work through policies and procedures governing privacy and how the technology would be used.
"What residents and the community need to know is that we hear you. We hear these concerns. We're taking steps to address them," Maheimer said.
wlos.com/news/local/asheville-city-council-vote-tuesday-ending-flock-camera-contract-august-25-2026-automatic-license-plate-readers-privacy-concerns-surveillance-technology-law-enforcement-crimes
#flock #asheville #flocksafety
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
