DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office is defending its use of automated license plate recognition cameras as county commissioners prepare to vote on the future of the program.
The Sheriff’s Office released information outlining why it uses Flock Safety cameras, how the program was approved and funded, how the technology has been used in criminal investigations and what safeguards are in place to prevent misuse.
The Davidson County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider whether to continue the Flock camera program Aug. 24.
Flock Safety cameras use automated license plate recognition technology, commonly known as ALPR, to capture information from vehicles traveling on public roadways. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the cameras record license plates, vehicle characteristics, dates, times and camera locations.
The agency said the cameras do not use facial recognition and do not collect information from cellphones or other electronic devices.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, information captured by Flock does not automatically provide a vehicle owner’s name, address, driver’s license information or other personal information. Deputies seeking registration or criminal justice information associated with a license plate must conduct a separate inquiry through authorized law enforcement databases.
The Sheriff’s Office said Davidson County’s size and network of major highways and secondary roads make ALPR technology useful for investigations involving suspects who travel between jurisdictions.
The agency said the cameras have been used to locate stolen vehicles, missing and endangered people, wanted suspects and vehicles connected to criminal investigations. Investigators have also used camera information to establish timelines and develop leads in serious cases.
The Sheriff’s Office said its Flock cameras have already assisted with homicide and drug investigations, stolen property recoveries and arrests of people wanted for violent crimes.
In one recent case, detectives used the cameras during an investigation that resulted in the Aug. 13 arrest of a man accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old child, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The agency also cited the March 27 arrest of Roy Holloway, who was wanted for murder in Dawson County, Georgia. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a Flock camera alerted law enforcement that the vehicle associated with Holloway was in Davidson County.
The Sheriff’s Office also pointed to the Aug. 12 apprehension of a suspect connected to a triple homicide investigation in Moore County. Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields credited Flock cameras with assisting authorities in locating the suspect, according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
The Davidson County program dates to 2024.
Chief Deputy Craven and Capt. Burns presented a proposal to purchase 25 Flock cameras during an Oct. 3, 2024, public informational meeting before the Davidson County Board of Commissioners.
Under the proposal, 23 cameras would be installed at strategic locations throughout the county, while two would remain portable.
Commissioners unanimously approved the project Oct. 14, 2024. Commissioners Todd Yates, Steve Shell, Chris Elliott, Karen Watford, James Shores and Matt Mizell voted in favor. Commissioner Fred McClure was absent, according to information provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
The first-year cost was approximately $90,750, including equipment, installation and subscription expenses. The Sheriff’s Office said the initial purchase was funded through federal forfeiture money and did not require local taxpayer funding.
The agency said the program costs approximately $76,000 annually after the first year. Future funding would be included in the Sheriff’s Office budget request and remain subject to approval by county commissioners.
Lexington and Thomasville police also operate Flock cameras within their jurisdictions.
The Sheriff’s Office also addressed constitutional and privacy concerns surrounding the technology.
According to the agency, Flock cameras collect information visible from public roadways, including license plates and exterior vehicle characteristics. The Sheriff’s Office compared the technology to an officer observing and recording a license plate while standing along a public road.
The agency stressed that a Flock alert does not establish that a driver or passenger committed a crime. The information serves as an investigative lead, and deputies and detectives remain responsible for determining whether additional law enforcement action is legally appropriate.
The Sheriff’s Office also said information obtained through the cameras does not eliminate requirements for search warrants when a warrant is otherwise required.
Access to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Flock system is restricted to trained supervisors and detectives, according to the agency. The system maintains auditing capabilities allowing searches and activity to be reviewed.
The Sheriff’s Office said internal audits have not identified misuse of the system by its personnel.
The agency also said employees who misuse the system would face termination and criminal charges.
“This will not be tolerated at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Richie Simmons said.
North Carolina has also expanded the statutory framework governing automated license plate readers.
According to information released by the Sheriff’s Office, the 2026 state budget established permanent statutory authority for an SBI and N.C. Department of Transportation ALPR program involving cameras placed within state transportation rights-of-way.
The legislation uses the broader term “automatic license plate reader systems” rather than specifically authorizing Flock Safety cameras.
The Sheriff’s Office said more than 130 North Carolina law enforcement agencies currently use Flock cameras.
The Sheriff’s Office said eliminating the Davidson County program would remove an investigative resource used by the agency to find missing people and violent offenders.
“This will remove a very important tool from the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office if the commissioners vote to remove the Flock Camera Program that could aid our agency in locating a missing child, person or violent criminal,” Simmons said. “I would be very disappointed in our commissioners if they decide to remove this valuable resource from our agency.”
The Sheriff’s Office said the technology should remain subject to constitutional limits and oversight.
“They do not replace good police work, and they do not replace the Constitution,” Simmons said. “Our responsibility is to use this technology lawfully, responsibly and with appropriate oversight while protecting the citizens of Davidson County.”
