A Salina resident raised concerns before the City Commission regarding the use and planned expansion of automated license plate reader camera systems currently operating in the city, citing privacy, transparency, and oversight issues.
During public comment, the resident addressed the Commission about the City’s use of Flock Safety and Leonardo camera systems. The resident stated that Salina currently has 22 Flock cameras in operation and is preparing to deploy an additional 21 Leonardo cameras.
According to the comments, the cameras capture images of every vehicle that passes within view and store those images in a searchable database. The resident argued that once the camera network is in place, law enforcement officers can search vehicle data without a warrant, probable cause, or reasonable suspicion.
Concerns were raised about the lack of safeguards preventing misuse of the data, including questions about who has access to the information and whether other law enforcement agencies outside Salina may also be able to access the data.
The resident characterized the system as a form of mass surveillance and said it is not the preferred approach to public safety. The Commission was urged to consider removing the cameras entirely.
If the City chooses to continue using the technology, the resident suggested two steps: first, seeking explicit public consent through a special election or a dedicated public forum to allow residents to weigh in on the use of the technology; and second, increasing transparency regarding how the data is accessed and used, including who conducts searches and for what purpose.
The resident acknowledged that the technology could have legitimate law enforcement uses but stated the potential risks to privacy outweigh the benefits.
The City Commission did not respond during the public comment period, and no action was taken. The issue was not listed as a discussion item on the meeting agenda.
Salina311 will continue to monitor the issue and report on any future City Commission discussions or policy actions related to automated license plate reader systems in Salina.