Rep. pat Harrigan, a Republican from North Carolina, has introduced legislation designed to restrict the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs). The bill specifically targets the capabilities of systems like Flock cameras to prevent government overreach and protect citizen privacy.
Banning the Search for 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Jesus Saves' Stickers
The legislation introduced by Rep.. Pat Harrigan seeks to prohibit government agencies from using ALPR technology to categorize vehicles based on "expressive attributes." According to the report, this means law enforcement would be barred from turning bumper stickers, flags, or decals—such as those reading "Back the Blue," "Jesus Saves," or "Black Lives Matter"—into searchable data points.
This move addresses a growing concern that automated surveillance is being used to profile citizens based on their beliefs rather than criminal activity.. Rep.. Pat Harrigan told Fox News Digital that the government currently holds an "extraordinary amount of information" on individuals who have never committed a crime, tracking their movements from workplaces to their children's schools.
The 24-Hour Deletion Rule and the 10 Percent Funding Threat
To curb long-term surveillance, the bill mandates that ALPR records be deleted within 24 hours, unless a court order, emergency, or warrant justifies their retention. Furthermore, the legislation would require law enforcement to obtain a probable cause warrant for most searches, removing the current ease with which officers can scan location data without judicial oversight.
The bill includes significant teeth to ensure state compliance. As reported by Fox News Digital, states that fail to implement these qualifying privacy protections could face a 10 percent reduction in certain federal criminal justice funding. Additionally, the bill would allow citizens to sue for at least $1,000 per violation if they are subjected to illegal searches, ensuring that illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible in court.
Donald Trump's Support vs. 46 Reported Cases of Partner Spying
The debate over ALPRs reveals a rift even within the GOP's orbit. President Donald Trump expressed his support for Flock cameras on September 13, noting that he "sort of likes them" because of their utility for law enforcement, despite critics viewing them as an infringement on constitutional rights.
However, the human cost of unregulated access has already surfaced. The report notes that Flock's systems have been misused in 46 cases to spy on romantic partners, exes, or other women. By restricting searches for non-moving traffic violations, debts, and civil immigration penalties, Rep. Pat Harrigan's bill aims to close the loopholes that allow such personal abuses of power.
The Gap Between Flock Safety's FreeForm Search and Privacy Claims
A critical point of contention remains the technical capability of the hardware. Flock Safety claims its systems can detect bumper stickers but cannot identify their specific type, such as a particular political party or house of worship. The company maintains that safeguards are in place to block searches based on religious or political symbols.
Despite these claims, the existence of Flock Safety's AI-powered "FreeForm" searrch—which allows users to search for vehicle characteristics in plain language—raises significant questions. It remains unclear how the company can simultaneously offer a plain-term search for vehicle characteristics while guaranteeing that political or religious markers cannot be identified and targeted. the bill's success may depnd on whether these AI capabilities can be effectively audited and restricted by law.
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