Norfolk Faces Lawsuit Over Flock Cameras

A federal lawsuit has been filed against the city of Norfolk, Virginia, challenging the constitutionality of its use of Flock cameras, which are automated license plate readers. The Institute for Justice, representing two local residents, argues that these cameras violate Fourth Amendment rights by enabling unwarranted surveillance of individuals' movements without probable cause. Norfolk has installed 172 such cameras, which track vehicles and store data for up to 30 days, raising concerns about privacy and potential data breaches. While police and prosecutors praise the system for its ability to assist in crime-solving, the lawsuit contends that capturing and storing license plate data constitutes an unreasonable search. Flock Safety, the manufacturer, argues that courts have generally upheld the legality of these cameras, as they photograph vehicles in public spaces where there is no expectation of privacy. The lawsuit names the City of Norfolk, the police department, and Police Chief Mark Talbot as defendants.