In Troy, New York, the mayor and the city council are at odds over whether to keep running Flock Safety's AI-powered automated license-plate readers (ALPR). In April 2026, the mayor declared a "public safety emergency" to keep the cameras operating after their contract lapsed, while the council pushed back with a lawsuit.
Troy, New York · ALPR Surveillance
A City Watched by AI Cameras No One Voted For
Police quietly installed 26-28 AI-enabled license-plate cameras after 2021 drive-by shootings. Five years on, the contracts — renewed without council approval — have split city leaders, sparked a lawsuit, and ignited a nationwide backlash against "cameras watching your car."
28
AI cameras placed across Troy since 2021
$2,500
Per camera, per year (plus ~$250-300 install)
13+
States with laws restricting ALPR over privacy
The Scale Behind the Lens
Flock Safety's reach dwarfs any single town — 20 billion vehicle scans every month.
~90,000
cameras nationwide
20 billion
vehicle scans / month
Operating in 49 states and 5,000+ communities — cloud-connected, solar-powered, no wiring required.
How "Vehicle Fingerprint" Sees You
Beyond reading plates, the AI identifies vehicles by appearance — even with no plate match.
Color
Bumper stickers
Damage
Roof racks
Real-time alerts
100+ mph, multi-lane
Mayor & Police
An effective tool to investigate & prevent crime
Used to track suspects after shootings
Scaling back = "a cut to the police budget"
Emergency declared April 1 to keep contracts alive
Residents & Council
"No community consent or consultation"
Constant tracking — a "dystopian hellscape"
Fear of long-term data retention & ICE sharing
Council sued; pushing 60-day review & deletion rules
The unresolved trade-off: cities must decide how to balance safety against surveillance — as Flock withdrawals mount and the cameras, owned by the company, can be removed when the contract ends.
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