- A Florida retiree stages peaceful protests against ALPR surveillance cameras.
- His demonstrations avoid physically damaging or altering the equipment.
- Protest highlights privacy concerns surrounding automated license plate readers.
Whether the logo says Flock Safety, Rekor Systems, Axon, Motorola Solutions, or any another ALPR manufacturer, the controversy surrounding automated license plate readers isn’t really about the company that built the camera. It’s about the technology itself. That’s the message 77-year-old Carl Gunn has been trying to make every Saturday in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he peacefully blocks a camera’s view with a homemade sign instead of damaging the equipment
Every Saturday, Gunn sets up beneath a different automated license plate reader in St. Petersburg, Florida, where police say roughly 50 Flock Safety cameras are installed throughout the city. According to local television reports, he deliberately chose a peaceful demonstration after seeing others resort to property damage. “I said, ‘What can I do to voice my opinion?'” Gunn told FOX 13. “They’re destroying property. I don’t want to do that.”
More: One Of America’s Biggest Police Forces Just Declined To Renew Its Flock Camera Deal
Gunn positions himself beneath the camera while holding a pole with a sign in front of its field of view. Reports indicate officers have spoken with him during at least one protest before allowing him to continue, but none of the published accounts indicate he was arrested during those demonstrations.
Whether his method is technically legal appears to be up in the air for now. That’s key because Gunn’s reference to vandalism of ALPR cameras isn’t nuanced.
Cities and states nationwide have seen a wave of public opposition, including acts that disable the cameras in one way or another. Gunn, by contrast, appears focused on making his point without damaging public property.
Again, it’s important to recognize that this isn’t solely a Flock Safety story. Flock has become one of the most recognizable names in the ALPR industry, but agencies across North America also use systems developed by companies including Rekor Systems, Axon, Motorola Solutions, Genetec, and others.
Several cities across the US have canceled contracts with Flock. At least a dozen or so have then inked new deals with different ALPR brands. We get the feeling that Gunn and those who choose to imitate his example don’t care what brand is on the camera.
