Flock & ALPR Cameras in Des Moines County, Iowa
Volunteers have reported 20 automated license plate readers across Des Moines County — each one logging every passing plate with a time and location.
Need this county’s camera data? Custom extracts are free for researchers, journalists and advocates. Ask for it.
- Sep 12 Flock Safety camera newly reported
Newly reported by volunteers — cameras may have been up long before someone mapped them.
How Des Moines County compares nationally
Des Moines County ranks #596 of 3,222 U.S. counties for cameras per resident. The count covers 38,597 residents and 1,100 miles of county roads — 4.6636 cameras per 10,000 residents.
What’s watching Des Moines County
Automated license plate readers like Flock Safety’s photograph every plate that passes, stamp it with time and place, and store it in a searchable database that’s routinely shared across agencies — here’s where that data goes. Counts reflect cameras volunteers have mapped inside Des Moines County. Spot one that’s missing? Report it on DeFlock.
The latest around Des Moines
- What Iowa drivers should know about Flock
- National backlash against Flock cameras reflected in Iowa communities
- Flock cameras are spreading nationwide. What Iowa drivers should know
- 8 license plate readers reported removed near West Des Moines, IA
What you can do in Des Moines
County commissions and sheriff’s offices sign these contracts — and answer to residents. Ask how long plate data is kept and who it’s shared with: file a public records request, speak at a public meeting, and see the playbook on Take Action. Organizing locally? Join or start a chapter.
Not sure what one looks like? See photographs of installed cameras before you go looking.
Cameras nearby in Iowa
← All Iowa cameras, counties & cities
Camera reports: the open-source DeFlock project. County boundaries: US Census.