BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Bethlehem Police Department released a public report Friday defending its use of Flock automated license plate readers, saying they are investigative tools rather than instruments of mass surveillance — a characterization civil liberties advocates dispute.
The report, signed by Police Chief Michelle Kott, addresses concerns that readers are being used to monitor residents. It does not disclose how many readers the city operates, how many searches officers have run, which outside agencies can query Bethlehem’s data, or whether any audit has found misuse.
The department denied a news organization’s request for those records earlier this year.
What the department says the readers do — and don’t do
The readers capture a license plate number, state of registration, vehicle make, model and color, plus the date, time and location of the camera, according to the report…