CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – Automated license plate readers are showing up in more communities across Virginia, and they’re generating real questions from residents about privacy. Christiansburg Police Chief Chris Ramsey sat down with 10 News to clear up how the technology actually works — and what officers cannot do with it.
What ‘Flock cameras’ actually means
The term “Flock camera” has become a catchall phrase that doesn’t always mean what people think it does, Ramsey said.
“Flock has become a generic term, kind of like Kleenex or Band-Aid,” Ramsey said. “Everybody just refers to any kind of camera now as a Flock camera.”
Flock Safety is a company that manufactures several types of surveillance cameras, including ALPRs. Private businesses — including retailers like Walmart and Lowe’s — can purchase and install their own Flock cameras and join the network independently, Ramsey said. Law enforcement cannot access those privately owned cameras without permission…