Tempe Shuts Down Flock License Plate Reader System, Will Not Replace It
By Digital Staff Reporter
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published August 26th, 2026
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TEMPE, Ariz. — Drivers in Tempe may still notice Flock license plate reader cameras along city streets, but those cameras are no longer collecting data.
The City of Tempe announced Tuesday that it has officially turned off its Flock automated license plate reader system and will end its contract with the company. The city also says it has no plans to hire another company to replace the system.
The decision comes after growing concerns about how automated license plate reader technology has been used in other communities in Arizona and across the country.
Tempe officials stressed that they have not found any misuse by Tempe Police.
The department says it audits searches of the system every month and has not identified any improper use.
Cameras Helped Police Solve Crimes
Tempe isn't walking away from Flock because the technology didn't work.
According to the city, the cameras have helped Tempe Police officers investigate and solve crimes by allowing officers to search license plate information collected by cameras throughout the city.
But city leaders say recent cases involving the misuse of similar technology elsewhere raised questions about privacy, civil liberties and the potential for the information to be used improperly.
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said the cameras have helped officers do their jobs, but ultimately the city decided the potential risks were too significant.
“These cameras have helped our police officers do their jobs, and we don't discount that,” Woods said. “But the risk of misuse is too great.”
Woods said maintaining the community's trust has to remain part of the equation when the city chooses which public safety technology to use.
Tempe Had Already Limited Flock Access
Tuesday's announcement wasn't Tempe's first move involving the system.
Earlier this month, on August 10, the city stopped sharing its Flock data with other law enforcement agencies in response to community concerns.
Tempe Police also launched a public Transparency Portal that allowed residents to see information about how the system was being used.
With the cameras now turned off, the city says that portal will also be discontinued.
What Happens to the Cameras?
The physical cameras won't necessarily disappear overnight.
Flock will be responsible for removing its equipment, meaning residents may continue seeing the cameras around Tempe until that work is completed.
But according to the city, no new license plate information is being collected.
Previously collected data is generally kept for 30 days before being automatically deleted.
Information connected to an active criminal case or investigation can be kept longer if investigators still need it.
Tempe Police Will Use Other Investigative Tools
Losing access to the Flock network will change the way Tempe Police handles some investigations, particularly cases where license plate information could help investigators identify or locate a vehicle.
Police say officers will instead continue relying on other investigative tools and partnerships with other law enforcement agencies.
For Tempe, the decision ultimately came down to weighing a technology that police say has proven useful against concerns about how that same technology could potentially be misused.
And for now, the city isn't looking for a replacement.
Once Flock removes the remaining cameras, Tempe's automated license plate reader program will officially be a thing of the past.
Source: City of Tempe / Tempe Police Department, August 26, 2026.
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