vehicle license plates

A federal judge has declared that a Tulsa, Oklahoma sheriff's deputy overstepped Fourth Amendment rights when he used Flock Safety to search for a woman's license plate without a warrant. While this ruling doesn't create a binding precedent, it marks the first time a federal judge has deemed a Flock search unconstitutional. Judge Sara Hill deemed the deputy's search unjustified, stating he had "no apparent reason" beyond the plate being from California.

The deputy then utilized the woman's travel history found in Flock as justification to search her car, resulting in the discovery of 91 pounds of meth. However, all evidence obtained following the Flock search must be suppressed as it is deemed "the fruit of a poisonous tree." Judge Hill also criticized warrantless searches of the Flock database, arguing that such surveillance violates individuals' constitutional rights, even when conducted in public spaces.

She emphasized that tracking people's location, regardless of the location, becomes problematic when law enforcement can indiscriminately catalog and later use that information for any purpose. This case joins a growing list of criticisms from across the political spectrum, with several local and state governments planning to discontinue the use of Flock technology.

Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced the Block Flock Act, aiming to prevent federal agencies from employing automated license plate readers like Flock. Flock CEO Garrett Langley has called for a compromise between privacy and safety and has issued an apology to women who have been stalked by law enforcement using the Flock system.

The company has reportedly offered voluntary employee buyouts to reduce its workforce amid the cancellations.