Flock became a law enforcement juggernaut by pledging to eradicate crime with AI-powered license plate readers. But local officials in multiple states toldhe AI surveillance cameras on John’s Pass Bridge, southwest of Tampa, Florida didn’t last a week before they were flagged for breaking state rules.
Permitting is intended to make certain that “if a car hits a camera going 80mph, it's not going to go through somebody's window shield.” In North Carolina in November 2023, a judge enjoined Flock staff from installing new cameras after a division of the state’s Department of Public SafetyFlock disputed the complaint, claiming it did not need any sort of clearance from the North Carolina Alarm Systems Licensing Board because it “”; the statute applies to any device used to detect illegal activity. Thomas said Flock has since been permitted to have a third party install its devices.
The company’s permitting division was supposed to streamline and expedite camera installations by working with state transportation agencies to ensure that the cameras the company sold to police could legally and safely be put out on public highways. In some states, like Kansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma, emails showed relationships with transportation officials were cordial and efficient.
“Our hope is to not have to remove any cameras and work towards a viable solution to bring everything up to FDOT standards while still keeping them in service for our law enforcement partners,” a Flock permitting employee wrote to FDOT. It’s unclear if Flock has obtained the right permits or if any cameras have been removed.