Flock & ALPR Cameras in Minnesota

Every one of those 1,654 cameras photographs the plate of each car that passes it — logging where Minnesota drivers go, when, and how often, whether or not anyone is suspected of a crime. Here’s what that means, and what you can do about it.

What these cameras actually do

Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) like those sold by Flock Safety aren’t normal traffic cameras. Each one reads every passing plate, stamps it with a time and location, and stores it in a searchable database — often shared across agencies. Across Minnesota, that’s 1,654 points quietly building a record of residents’ movements. See how the tech works and where your data goes.

How Minnesota compares

Minnesota ranks #25 of 52 states and territories by reported ALPR cameras — part of a fast-growing national footprint. Nationwide, volunteers have mapped over 143,000 cameras and counting. Nearby by camera count: Kansas (2,059), Kentucky (1,924), Massachusetts (1,204), Oklahoma (1,513).

The latest from Minnesota

• Amid Flock backlash, one Minnesotan’s longshot plan to take down the company Star Tribune · 18 hours ago
• One Minnesotan’s longshot plan to take down the company behind Flock cameras bing.com · 1 day ago
• Flock Cameras Spark new questions in Minnesota City rollingout.com · 5 days ago
• A Minnesota city put its Flock program on hold. At least 2 cameras were reinstalled Bring Me The News · 5 days ago
• Flock cameras coming back from the dead - Minnesota News Civic Media · 6 days ago

The conversation about Minnesota:

Jake Nelson@jakenelson.bsky.socialBlueskyThink it says something you get this quote in a story about the local interminable highway construction doing speed warning cameras: "These are not Flock cameras," Wagner said. "These will never be Flock cameras and will never be…13 hours ago★ Our signalDeFlock The USA@deflocktheusa.bsky.socialBluesky📷 21 new license plate readers just reported around Woodbury, MN. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Woodbury2 days agoJason Chavez@jchavezmpls.bsky.socialBlueskyIn July 2026, a Star Tribune investigation reported that federal immigration enforcement agencies, including ICE, had means of accessing Flock Safety-collected data, despite Minnesota law restricting ALPR data-sharing to criminal investigations. 3/4 days agoJason Chavez@jchavezmpls.bsky.socialBlueskyAt Thursday’s Minneapolis City Council meeting, we passed a resolution calling on Hennepin County Sheriff Witt and the University of MN to terminate their Flock Safety cameras with a 9-4 vote. 1/ kstp.com/kstp-news/lo...4 days agoJosh Martin@joshmartinmpls.bsky.socialBlueskyThe Public Health, Safety, and Equity Committee recommended approving a resolution calling on Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota to terminate the use of Flock Safety cameras used as license plate reader cameras. Adopted by a vote…5 days agoSoren Stevenson@sorenwithward8.bsky.socialBlueskyThese devices can threaten the safety and privacy of our residents, which has led a number of Minnesota jurisdictions—including Duluth, Isanti County, Sherburne County, West St. Paul, Columbia Heights, Brooklyn Park, Shorewood, and Saint Paul—to end or pause…5 days ago

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What you can do in Minnesota

You don’t have to accept it — and you don’t have to be anti-safety to demand accountability. File a public records request to learn your town’s retention and data-sharing policy, speak up at a city-council meeting, and see the full playbook on our Take Action page.

Not sure what one looks like? See photographs of installed cameras before you go looking.

Flock & ALPR cameras by city in Minnesota

We track 198 Minnesota cities and towns with reported cameras — each with its own local report:

Flock & ALPR cameras by county in Minnesota

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