The nonprofit Utah Civic Compact is urging the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to terminate its contract with Flock Group Inc., stating that such a move would sharply limit the number of automated license plate readers on state roads. The group announced its findings at a news conference at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, suggesting this approach offers a faster and easier way to curb surveillance technology than waiting for legislative action.
Utah Civic Compact members discovered this potential "workaround" by reviewing the agency’s contract with Flock Group Inc., according to a copy provided to Utah News Dispatch. The contract permits UDOT to end the agreement if it "determines that the public does not support the Company’s activities." The group contends that widespread public outcry in recent months, including instances of cameras being vandalized or cut down, demonstrates that Utahns disapprove of the technology.
Clark Dice, a spokesperson for Utah Civic Compact, emphasized this point at Friday's news conference, stating that residents do not trust the new technology and feel unsafe under constant surveillance. Dice added that while UDOT is a third party granting permits for these cameras along state highways at the request of law enforcement, it also has the power to help restore public trust damaged by misuse of the devices. Concerns about privacy and cases of police improperly using cameras to stalk individuals they know have fueled public opposition across the country, according to the group.
In response, UDOT spokesperson John Gleason confirmed on Friday that attorneys for the department were reviewing the contract. Gleason stated that UDOT's primary focus currently involves verifying that cameras bordering state roads possess the proper permits and that the department is still working to count all of them. He clarified that UDOT "wouldn’t be determining the big-picture questions of whether these cameras should be out there or, you know, what the purpose is," noting such questions would need to go to the law enforcement agencies responsible for their deployment.
Gleason explained that UDOT's responsibilities center on matters of equipment, highway safety, and paperwork. He emphasized that the department cannot access the information obtained by the devices and does not determine their location, quantity, or operational methods. While state law requires UDOT to permit cameras designated for official police use, Gleason indicated he did not know under which specific circumstances, if any, the department could revoke a particular permit.
The cameras have been a significant tool for law enforcement nationwide, with police departments asserting they are a major aid in solving crimes. Last month, law enforcement officials urged lawmakers at the Capitol to retain the technology in Utah, pledging to use it responsibly. Flock network, the company behind the platform, claims its system assists in solving approximately 2,000 crimes daily.
State leaders have also voiced their own concerns about the technology. Gov. Spencer Cox stated in August that he believes Americans "should be deeply concerned" about police potentially misusing data from these cameras for personal reasons. He directed the Utah Privacy Governing Board and the Utah Privacy Commission to review the state’s rules and regulations for the cameras. Governor Cox specified that this review should focus on how local agencies are using them, ensuring they are not being abused, clarifying public understanding of their use, and holding individuals accountable for any abuses.
Existing state law limits the use of these cameras by law enforcement to specific purposes: active criminal investigations, arresting individuals with outstanding warrants, locating missing or endangered persons, or tracking stolen vehicles. Using or sharing the collected data for any other reason constitutes a misdemeanor offense. However, Utah Civic Compact points out a gap in the current law, noting there is no clear mechanism to ensure out-of-state agencies adhere to Utah’s specific requirements.
