Oregon Says No to License Plate Surveillance

The Cities That Said No

Oregon cities are abandoning Flock Safety at an unusual rate:

As of November 2025, the ACLU of Oregon reported at least 15 police and sheriff departments still had active Flock Safety contracts. That number is shrinking.

Why Cities Are Leaving

The reasons cluster around a few key concerns:

ICE access fears: Oregon's sanctuary laws prohibit state and local agencies from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. But Flock Safety's network allows data sharing across agencies, potentially including federal ones. Despite Flock's policies banning immigration searches, local cops were caught running them anyway.

Sanctuary and shield laws: Oregon law protects access to reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming care. ALPR data could theoretically be used to track people traveling for these services, especially if shared with out-of-state agencies.

Security vulnerabilities: Eugene specifically cited vulnerabilities in the system. When cameras were supposed to be paused, one reactivated without authorization. What else isn't working as advertised?

Community pushback: Organized campaigns from groups like "Eyes Off Eugene" mobilized residents. City councils faced real pressure from constituents who didn't want surveillance.

Statewide Regulation Coming

Oregon lawmakers aren't waiting for every city to figure this out individually. Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene) has formed a workgroup to draft statewide ALPR regulations ^[7].

The workgroup includes:

• ACLU of Oregon
• Anti-surveillance organizations (Eyes Off Eugene, others)
• Law enforcement representatives

What the regulations may include:

• Data sharing restrictions: Prohibiting or limiting sharing outside Oregon
• Sanctuary law alignment: Ensuring ALPR can't be used for immigration enforcement
• Shield law alignment: Protecting reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming care access
• Public records exemptions: Potentially shielding ALPR data from public requests (controversial)
• Criminal penalties: For misuse of ALPR data
• Private sector oversight: Consumer protection for non-government ALPR use

The goal is to prevent new contracts that might conflict with future state restrictions before the 2027 legislative session.

The Legislative Fight

Not everyone wants restrictions. A police-backed Republican bill seeks to:

• Shield ALPR data from public review
• Limit use to specific criminal investigations or missing person searches
• Prohibit use for traffic enforcement

Critics have noted the bill's vague language and lack of concrete controls ^[8]. It would create opacity without meaningful privacy protection.

The tension: Law enforcement wants the technology with fewer restrictions. Privacy advocates want meaningful limits or bans. The 2027 session will determine which vision prevails.

Flock's Response

Flock Safety hasn't given up on Oregon. Following pressure from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, the company committed to implementing "privacy filters" in Oregon to block requests related to abortion or immigration enforcement from out-of-state police ^[9].

Critics are skeptical. Privacy filters are only as good as their implementation. The same company that promised ALPR data wouldn't be used for immigration enforcement had to suspend access after local cops were caught doing exactly that.

Trust is earned. Flock hasn't earned it.

Part of a Larger Pattern

Oregon isn't alone. Cities across the country are reconsidering ALPR surveillance:

• Charlottesville, Virginia: Ended Flock Safety contract over ICE concerns (December 2025)
• Thurston County, Washington: Proposing comprehensive AI surveillance ban including ALPRs
• Multiple California cities: Facing similar debates about Flock contracts

The pattern: local organizing, exposure of data sharing practices, and political pressure leading to contract cancellations. When communities learn what Flock actually does, many say no.

What You Can Do

The Bottom Line

Oregon cities are rejecting Flock Safety at a rate not seen elsewhere. Eugene, Springfield, Bend, Woodburn, Talent, Lane County: all ending or suspending contracts. The reasons: ICE data access fears, sanctuary law conflicts, security vulnerabilities, and community pressure.

Now the state is stepping in. Senator Prozanski's workgroup is drafting statewide ALPR regulations for 2027. The goal: establish ground rules before more departments sign contracts that conflict with Oregon values.

This is what surveillance resistance looks like. City by city. Contract by contract. Until the state makes it law.

References

1. KLCC: Oregon Cities End Flock Safety ALPR Contracts (December 2025)
2. OPB: Eugene and Springfield End Flock Safety Agreements (December 2025)
3. Bend Source: Bend Will Not Renew Flock Safety Contract (January 2026)
4. OPB: Woodburn Suspends Flock Safety Cameras Over ICE Concerns (November 2025)
5. Reddit: Oregon Flock Safety Contract Updates (2025)
6. KLCC: Lane County Sheriff Ends Flock Contract Without Deployment
7. Lookout Eugene-Springfield: Oregon Lawmakers Draft ALPR Regulations (January 2026)
8. News From The States: Police-Backed ALPR Bill Faces Criticism (2026)
9. KLCC: Flock Safety Commits to Privacy Filters in Oregon (2025)

Related Coverage

• Flock Cameras Found Streaming Without Passwords. Security researchers expose 67 unprotected feeds
• Flock Safety: 20 Billion Scans a Month. The ICE searches that started it all
• Thurston County Proposes AI Surveillance Ban. Washington county joins the fight
• Check If You're in Surveillance Databases. How to file ALPR data requests
• US Facial Recognition Bans. State-by-state breakdown
• Flock Safety Cameras on College Campuses. Kennesaw State installed 49 cameras without telling students
• ACLU and EFF Sue San Jose. Lawsuit challenges 474 Flock cameras and warrantless searches
• San Jose Slashes Data After Lawsuit. 30-day retention, federal access blocked
• The Flock Rebellion: Cities Pull the Plug. Mountain View, Austin, Eugene, and more cancel contracts
• Ring Killed the Flock Partnership. Public outrage forces a surveillance retreat
• Flock Cameras at Schools Feed ICE. How license plate readers reach immigration enforcement