ALPR Surveillance by State

Flock & ALPR Cameras in Ohio

At least 6,858 automated license plate readers have been reported across Ohio — the 6th most-surveilled state in the country by camera count.

Updated Oct 6, 2026 · Live data

6,858 automated license plate readers have been reported in Ohio as of October 6, 2026, ranking it #6 of 52 states and territories. They are documented in 556 cities and towns across 80 counties. 91 percent are Flock Safety cameras.

511 cameras were added to the Ohio map in the last 30 days and 139 were removed. The most recent camera was reported on September 11, 2026. Akron (97) has the most, followed by Westerville (93) and Toledo (79).

106 operators are named in the records, including Toledo Police Department, Lowe's, Youngstown Police Department. Source: community-mapped camera data (OpenStreetMap, ODbL) with DeFlock The USA’s permanent history.

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6,858

Reported cameras

of 52 · most surveilled

4.8%

of all mapped U.S. cameras

Every one of those 6,858 cameras photographs the plate of each car that passes it — logging where Ohio 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.

⚠ On the Docket near you

On the agenda: Moreland Hills meeting — License Plate Reader (Oct 7)
Wednesday, October 7 — today · The full record → · Read the agenda ↗

The local record — what was proposed here

Every record for this area on the Docket → · nothing is ever deleted.

Live camera map 6,858 reported cameras around Ohio

Every dot is a volunteer-reported license plate reader · map data curated by the DeFlock project · refreshed daily Open the full map →

Camera Watch Recently reported near Ohio

+36 this week +179 last 30 days −87 removed

Oct 6 Flock Safety camera newly reported
Oct 6 Flock Safety camera newly reported
Oct 6 Flock Safety camera newly reported
Oct 5 Flock Safety camera newly reported

Newly reported by volunteers — cameras may have been up long before someone mapped them.

We broadcast this

📷 12 new license plate readers just reported around Mayfield Heights, OH. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #MayfieldHeights

Sep 13, 2026 View on Bluesky ↗ View on Mastodon ↗

📷 Portsmouth, OH just got its first reported license plate readers. Someone went out and looked — now it's on the map. #ALPR #Surveillance #Portsmouth

Aug 19, 2026 View on Mastodon ↗ View on Bluesky ↗

📷 11 new license plate readers just reported around Lancaster, OH. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Lancaster

Jul 22, 2026 View on Mastodon ↗ View on Bluesky ↗

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 Ohio, that’s 6,858 points quietly building a record of residents’ movements. See how the tech works and where your data goes.

How Ohio compares

Ohio ranks #6 of 52 states and territories by reported ALPR cameras — among the most heavily surveilled in the nation. Nationwide, volunteers have mapped over 143,000 cameras and counting. Nearby by camera count: Florida (9,539), Illinois (8,073), New York (4,440), Pennsylvania (3,815).

The latest from Ohio

On camera in Ohio — each opens right here on DeFlock:

▶Flock · 7 months agoHow Flock LPR Really Works: License Plate Readers, Search & Data Privacy Explained ▶NBC News · 11 months agoPolice camera system tracking billions of license plates causes some pushback ▶Flock · 6 years agoDayton, OH neighborhoods help police solve crime with Flock Safety license plate readers

The conversation about Ohio:

minty tear gas 🏳️‍⚧️@nihilamacabre.bsky.socialBlueskyIn ASHLAND?? As in Ohio?? Full offense but Ashland is a butt-ignorant right-wing voting town, always has been. This is kind of mind-blowing. I guess they finally got tired of the taste of boot16 hours ago

DeFlock Redmond@deflock-redmond.bsky.socialBluesky@vntrinh13.bsky.social and @bjmendelson.com discuss Flock! "the existence of this tech & its use implies that we are all under investigation at all times & then once the crime actually does happen the police have already conducted a pretty…2 days ago

BJ Mendelson ❌👑@bjmendelson.comBluesky#ICYMI: Everyone is being watched now by the police, meaning we live in a world where you’re guilty until proven incident. Thanks in large part to Flock Safety: www.stupidsexyprivacy.com/everyone-is-...2 days ago

Viet!@vntrinh13.bsky.socialBlueskyI had a lot of fun chopping it up with @bjmendelson.com over Flock, data privacy, and our civil liberties. Now available as a podcast! share.transistor.fm/s/e6b6a8035 days ago

BJ Mendelson ❌👑@bjmendelson.comBlueskyEveryone is being watched by the police all the time now: share.transistor.fm/s/e6b6a8036 days ago

Alethekanon@judgement-bot.bsky.socialBlueskyToledo sees a sixth Flock Safety camera vandalized as national pushback against automated license plate readers grows. Evidence: cut poles, privacy concerns, police pushback #Aletheia #Surveillance1 week ago

All surveillance news → · All video & feeds →

What you can do in Ohio

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.

Local chapter