> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.albanyscanner.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Flock is out: Albany rejects license plate cameras - URL: https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/09/09/city/albany-rejects-license-plate-cameras-flock-contract-ends/ - Published: 2026-09-09T19:08:49.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-09T19:58:33.000Z - Description: The new contract would have reduced the numbers of ALPR cameras in Albany. The existing contract with Flock Safety ends Friday. - Author: Allyson Aleksey - Tags: City, Albany Police Department, Albany City Council, Crime & Safety, #articles Albany rejected a new contract for license plate cameras Tuesday night amid concerns about privacy, surveillance and potential use of the technology in federal immigration enforcement. The [Albany City Council](https://www.albanyscanner.com/topic/albany-city-council/) vote to reject a new contract with Motorola Services came just days before Albany's existing camera contract with Flock Safety is set to expire. It was not immediately clear what will happen to those cameras when the contract ends Friday. Four council members ultimately voted to reject the contract while Vice Mayor Jennifer Hansen-Romero abstained, asking for more data. Automatic license plate readers, or ALPR, use cameras and software to capture images of passing vehicles and read their plates. The data can include plate number, vehicle image, location, and date and time of the scan. Law enforcement agencies can use the information to investigate crimes or determine whether a vehicle may be connected to an investigation. According to the [city’s request for proposals](https://www.albanyca.gov/files/assets/city/v/2/city-clerk/documents/rfps-rfqs-amp-bids/rfp-albany-alpr-2026.06.01.pdf?ref=albanyscanner.com), ALPR technology has been used in Albany as a "force multiplier" for officers and provides "critical lead-generation capability" for criminal investigations. The city's contract with Flock Safety went into effect September 2024. The proposed contract with Motorola would have allowed ALPR cameras at up to 24 locations, primarily focused on Albany’s major entry and exit points. The new program would have reduced the city's [current ALPR capacity](https://citystream.com/api/agendaItems/VKuRIAqUpoxMjLBhWgCb/attachments/download?filename=3539f932-e080-42b3-aeba-677fa8ff30c0-%5FCCSR%5FALPR%5FAward%5FRFP.pdf&%3Bstate=CA&%3Bcity=city-albany&state=CA&city=city-albany&ref=albanyscanner.com) by about a third, from 34 cameras to 24, Albany Police Chief Greg Galliano said Tuesday night. Galliano defended the technology, saying ALPR has assisted his officers with investigations involving hit-and-runs, commercial burglaries and other crimes. He said the department understood resident concerns over privacy and surveillance, adding that "California has some of the strictest ALPR requirements in the country." The department's "own high standards and values were built into \[the\] proposed contract with Motorola," Galliano said. In recent months, the city sought vendors that would provide public-facing dashboards to help residents understand how ALPR data is used, as well as vendors with a demonstrated history of transparency. It got six proposals. But those safeguards did not alleviate concerns raised by council members and the public, particularly about the potential use of ALPR data in immigration enforcement and the broader implications of large-scale location tracking. Councilman Robin López challenged his colleagues who expressed support of ALPR technology, raising questions about who bears the risks associated with surveillance. "My questions aren't for the public, but for other people on council who are about to make a decision — who of you have lived in Black and brown skin? Who \[has\] been subjected to surveillance? Whose family's movement has actually been tracked for purposes of their legal status? Who has immediate family who are immigrants of color? Who is raising brown children in Albany?" López added that his "plate \[was\] falsely run as a stolen vehicle by another agency using Flock." He said he had to request a new license plate "because of legitimate concerns \[over being tracked\] shortly after being sworn in as the first Latino mayor of the city of Albany." López said he told the police department ahead of time that he would not vote for the contract. A majority of Tuesday night's public speakers urged council to reject ALPR technology altogether, with some citing Albany’s [status as a Sanctuary City](https://www.albanyca.gov/Our-City/Sanctuary-City?ref=albanyscanner.com) as a reason to end the camera program. "\[There is\] no evidence that the systems reduce crime overall, particularly violent crime," Albany resident and UCSF professor Carol Camlin told council members. "The cameras create searchable records of the movements of thousands of ordinary people, suspected of nothing, and the risks, misuses and harms of \[the technology\] has already been documented." Former Councilman Aaron Tiedemann, who is [seeking re-election](https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/09/01/city/albany-council-candidates-clash-housing-taxes/), also urged the City Council to suspend ALPR usage altogether, saying the city "should be wary no matter the provider." "We've been shown, though well-intentioned, that the effort \[with Flock\] has not been a success and should be pulled back," he said Tuesday. "While I trust our police officers, I do not trust the technology or its providers." Councilman John Miki said he felt strongly "about making sure \[Albany\] police officers have the right tools” to help keep the community safe, but voted against the contract, citing residents' concerns. "What I hear from the community is a lack of trust. Not a lack of trust in our department, or our city staff, it’s a lack of trust in either the companies gathering the data for us or the ability of others to access the data with ill intent," he said. California [Senate Bills 34 and 54](https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-advises-california-law-enforcement-legal-uses-and?ref=albanyscanner.com) restrict state and local law enforcement agencies from sharing certain ALPR information with out-of-state or federal entities for purposes prohibited under state law. Those restrictions have nevertheless become a point of concern as police departments and civil liberties groups have clashed over how ALPR systems are operated and searched. The ACLU of Northern California has challenged law enforcement agencies over their use of ALPR technology, including a case involving the [Marin County sheriff's office](https://www.courthousenews.com/marin-county-sheriff-agrees-to-stop-sharing-data-with-feds/?ref=albanyscanner.com) license plate and location data sharing with federal agencies. Other California agencies have also reconsidered their use of the technology. The [Grass Valley Police Department](https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article316848886.html?ref=albanyscanner.com) suspended its use of Flock Safety cameras last month amid privacy concerns, while [El Cerrito became the first East Bay city](https://www.ktvu.com/news/el-cerrito-residents-demand-removal-flock-surveillance-cameras-past-deadline-brief?ref=albanyscanner.com) to end its contract with Flock in June. Many local police departments have pointed to ALPR technology as a critical investigative tool. Earlier this month, a Flock alert [helped Berkeley police](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2026/09/04/crime/flock-alert-berkeley-police-wanted-man-gun/?ref=albanyscanner.com) locate a wanted man who authorities said had a loaded gun in his waistband. Piedmont's police department was among the first law enforcement agencies in the nation to launch an [ALPR Transparency Portal](https://piedmontca.gov/services%5F%5F%5Fdepartments/police/transparency%5Fportal?ref=albanyscanner.com) in partnership with Flock Safety. Piedmont officers made 24 arrests in 2025 that the department said were directly related to ALPR cameras. Vice Mayor Jennifer Hansen-Romero, who asked for additional data to support the contract approval, abstained from the vote. She said the technology could have potential benefits for criminal investigations but expressed concern about data sharing. "There is a balance here. There could be a lot of potential good uses, but I am nervous about the data sharing," she said. "These things are double-edged swords. You say no \[to a contract\] and then something happens." "I feel there's still something we can leverage out of this and not completely throw it out the window," she added. Mayor Peggy McQuaid said she had "struggled" with the contract, adding that she "met with people who were in favor and who were opposed." "I read every email we got, and we got a lot of them," she said Tuesday. "I share concerns about surveillance. I don't think we can trust the federal government. I don't think we can trust these companies." "There's too much we can't control, and the fact that the community is here, a broad group of our community of all ages, genders, races, it's not one group — it's our community, and that's really impacting me," she added. Councilman Preston Jordan said he could not recall another time during his tenure when "input received" from the community was so strongly opposed to an agenda item. He said peer-reviewed data presented to the city's Public Safety Committee earlier this year showed the lack of evidence about whether ALPR technologies reduce violent crime. "That leaves me in a tough spot, because that's what I rely on, and \[ALPR\] has been out there for long enough that it seems like there are opportunities \[that\] research could have been done and has not been done," he said. Council also discussed a separate ALPR system for parking enforcement. That system was not part of the council decision on the Motorola contract. It will be initiated as a pilot program with Clancy Systems after a competitive process. Police said the technology could reduce the need for manual enforcement while improving safety and efficiency. Police Lt. Justin Kurland said the city could evaluate other options if the proposed parking-enforcement system does not meet Albany's needs. For the fixed-camera ALPR system, however, Tuesday's vote leaves the city without a new vendor as its existing Flock Safety contract approaches its expiration date. *Have questions for Albany Scanner, or want to share story tips?* [*Here's how to reach us*](https://www.albanyscanner.com/tips/)*.* [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b5/b0/b5b0b7ec-798c-4cb6-ab42-472b59c05589/content/images/2026/09/double-down-icon.png)](#/portal/signup) When you support Albany Scanner, you help make local news available to everyone. Double down through Sept. 30, when every first-time gift is matched dollar for dollar, up to $10,000\. [****Double your impact →**](https://www.albanyscanner.com/#/portal/signup) [Double Down On Albany News ](#/portal/signup)