KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is meeting with the Knox County Commission Monday to discuss the use of license plate readers, commonly known as Flock cameras, as questions continue about privacy protections and data retention.
A representative from Flock Safety is expected to attend the meeting as county leaders review how the technology is being used and whether additional safeguards should be considered.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Jones, now a criminal law professor at Lincoln Memorial University, said license plate reader technology has become a common investigative tool for law enforcement agencies.
Jones said that during his eight years prosecuting federal drug trafficking cases, Flock cameras played a role in many investigations.
“Obviously, in my experience as a federal prosecutor, for the last 8 years prosecuting drug trafficking cases, I dealt with Flock readers in almost every case,” Jones said.
Jones also addressed questions about the legality of the cameras. He said Tennessee falls under the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has determined that people do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding license plates visible in public.
“Our 6th Circuit which Tennessee falls under has said that a person does not have a reasonable expectation to privacy for license plate readers,” Jones said.
Because vehicles are visible in public spaces, Jones said law enforcement officers do not need a warrant to observe or collect information related to a vehicle’s license plate.
Even so, Jones said it is reasonable for lawmakers to establish limitations and oversight measures governing how the technology is used.
“It’s reasonable for lawmakers to want to do something like that and to limit, but I don’t think the answer is let’s not use this technology,” Jones said.
Some Knox County residents remain skeptical.
Christian Breeden, who lives in Knox County, said the technology raises concerns about government tracking and the need for stronger policies.
“If people can track you using those things, that’s a concern for me. And the citizens should be concerned that agencies don’t have policies and procedures in place yet,” Breeden said.
Privacy concerns have prompted elected officials in some communities nationwide to reconsider their use of license plate readers or continue debating the future of the systems.
One key issue expected to be discussed is how long law enforcement agencies should have access to collected video and vehicle data. Flock Safety has already shortened its retention period, reducing how long footage can be stored from 30 days to seven days.
Supporters of the technology argue that license plate readers help investigators solve crimes and locate suspects more quickly. Jones believes public understanding of the technology could influence future policy decisions.
“I think once the community knows how it’s being used, I think they’ll embrace the technology or they’ll reach out to their legislators and say these are the accommodations we want. This is how we want to limit this technology,” Jones said.
County leaders are expected to weigh those competing concerns as discussions continue over balancing public safety benefits with privacy protections for residents.
