Residents Demand End to Automated License Plate Readers in Fairfax

Civil rights advocates gathered before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 27 to demand an end to the county’s partnership with Flock Safety.

Speakers asked the board to remove the company’s license plate readers and prevent the installation of similar automated tracking equipment. Christian Martinez Lemus of We Are CASA told the supervisors that mass surveillance fails to reduce violent crime or deter serious offenses. He argued that canceling the current contract without ending the practice of automated mass tracking leaves the problem intact. Martinez Lemus stated that surveillance is inherently flawed and should be stopped.

Marcella Levine of ACLU People Power Fairfax raised concerns about data sharing between local police and federal immigration enforcement. Although the county’s Trust Policy, in effect since 2021, prohibits sharing information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement except when required by law or court order, Levine noted that no guarantees exist against informal data transfers. She questioned whether putting the immigrant community at risk was necessary to solve a limited number of crimes, suggesting police could likely solve those cases through other means.

The board did not respond to the public comments during the Oct. 27 session. In September, supervisors voted to pause the installation of new Flock cameras pending further discussion. At a Safety and Security Committee meeting on Oct. 20, county public safety staff defended the technology as a critical crime-solving tool. Elected officials expressed skepticism about the arguments, but no final decision was reached regarding the program, which began in 2022.

Courtney Massie of Showing Up for Racial Justice Northern Virginia criticized police officials for manipulating statistics and presenting misleading evidence. She urged leaders to end the Flock contract and ban government use of automated license plate readers in the county.

Neighboring jurisdictions are also addressing the technology. Alexandria announced on Tuesday that it is ending its Flock program. In Falls Church, City Manager Seth Hendler-Voss stated on Oct. 26 that the city operates no automated license plate readers and has no plans to introduce them. Arlington County Board members ended their Flock contract in September, a move that drew mixed reactions from the public.

At an Oct. 26 town hall in Arlington, Eric Lotke argued that ending the contract was insufficient and called for a permanent ban on local law enforcement use. He described the technology as Big Brother watching residents. Desiree Lomer-Clarke echoed this view, stating the equipment does not prevent crime. John Antonelli criticized the board for ending the contract without a public hearing, noting three shootings in Arlington since the cameras were turned off. Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said leaders would commit to a public process going forward. He expressed concern that the current administration might obtain Flock data and stated he would not support the technology while that leader remains in office.