Flock & ALPR Cameras in Virginia
At least 3,445 automated license plate readers have been reported across Virginia — the 13th most-surveilled state in the country by camera count.
Updated Oct 11, 2026 · Live data
3,445 automated license plate readers have been reported in Virginia as of October 11, 2026, ranking it #13 of 52 states and territories. They are documented in 307 cities and towns across 119 counties. 92 percent are Flock Safety cameras.
393 cameras were added to the Virginia map in the last 30 days and 114 were removed. The most recent camera was reported on September 11, 2026. Norfolk (237) has the most, followed by Portsmouth Heights (153) and Chesapeake (150).
102 operators are named in the records, including Norfolk Police Department, Hampton Police Division, Lowe's. Source: community-mapped camera data (OpenStreetMap, ODbL) with DeFlock The USA’s permanent history.
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Every one of those 3,445 cameras photographs the plate of each car that passes it — logging where Virginia 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 agenda: Harrisonburg City Council — License Plate Recognition (Oct 13)
Tuesday, October 13 — in 2 days · The full record → · Read the agenda ↗
On the agenda: Lynchburg City Council Meeting — license plate reader (Oct 13)
Tuesday, October 13 — in 2 days · The full record → · Read the agenda ↗
On the agenda: Farmville Town Council - Regular Meeting — Flock camera (Oct 14)
Wednesday, October 14 — in 3 days · The full record → · Read the agenda ↗
- Oct 8, 2026 On the agenda: Independence meeting — flock camera (Oct 8)
- Oct 7, 2026 On the agenda: Farmville Town Council - Work Session — Flock Camera (Oct 7)
- Oct 6, 2026 On the agenda: Campbell County meeting — Flock Camera (Oct 6)
- Oct 6, 2026 On the agenda: Front Royal Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting — Flock Safety (Oct 6)
Every record for this area on the Docket → · nothing is ever deleted.
- Oct 11 Axon Enterprise camera newly reported
- Oct 11 Flock Safety camera newly reported
- Oct 11 Flock Safety camera newly reported
- Oct 11 Flock Safety camera newly reported
Newly reported by volunteers — cameras may have been up long before someone mapped them.
📷 14 new license plate readers just reported around Winchester, VA. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Winchester
📷 9 new license plate readers just reported around Suffolk, VA. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Suffolk
📷 6 new license plate readers just reported around Arlington, VA. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Arlington
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 Virginia, that’s 3,445 points quietly building a record of residents’ movements. See how the tech works and where your data goes.
How Virginia compares
Virginia ranks #13 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: Alabama (2,917), Michigan (3,684), Missouri (3,423), Tennessee (3,634).
The latest from Virginia
- Williams: Virginia, read the room. Ban automated license plate readers.
- Damascus cancels Flock contract, joining other Virginia localities that have recently severed ties with the surveillance company
- Damascus cancels Flock cameras contract, joining other Virginia localities that have recently severed ties with the tech company
- Another Virginia county drops Flock surveillance
- Following charges against some officers, Virginia lawmaker looks to further limit Flock
On camera in Virginia — each opens right here on DeFlock:
The conversation about Virginia:
The Crows Nest Report@crowsnestMastodonToday, deadline: Flock Safety deadline to answer West Virginia lawmakers' questions regarding surveillance practices and safeguards (Charleston, WV) https://crowsnest.report/calendar?utm_source=mastodon2 days ago
FinTwitLite@ftl.invalid-handle.comBlueskyFlock Safety is laying off hundreds of staff amid backlash against its AI surveillance tech. Nvidia-backed Firmus canceled its 5 billion dollar Australian listing citing weak demand. Arlington County, Virginia, filed a lawsuit to block construction of a…3 days ago
WHRO Public Media@whropublicmedia.bsky.socialBlueskyHenrico County is ending its contract with Flock Safety, making it the largest Flock camera user in Virginia to cancel the automated license plate reader system. (Story by Kunle Falayi) Read more here: tinyurl.com/mskxa9ap3 days ago
💀norfölkology🎃@norfolkology.bsky.socialBlueskyLOLOL’d at ‘some are even acting’ 😭😭😭😭😭3 days ago
Lori Kersey@lorikerseywv.bsky.socialBlueskyWV lawmakers give Flock until Friday to answer questions westvirginiawatch.com/2026/10/07/w...4 days ago
The Age of BS@theageofbs.bsky.socialBlueskyNo scandal required: Henrico County, Virginia is pulling all 122 of its Flock cameras because officials saw how access went "in other places" and decided not to wait their turn.4 days agoAll surveillance news → · All video & feeds →
What you can do in Virginia
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.
DeFlock Norfolk — Norfolk, Virginia
Organizing in the city where a judge called warrantless Flock tracking a Fourth Amendment search — ground zero of the federal lawsuit.
Join the fight ↗DeFlock Chesterfield — Chesterfield, Virginia
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗DeFlock Fairfax — Fairfax, Virginia
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗DeFlock Harrisonburg — Harrisonburg, Virginia
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗DeFlock Loudoun — Loudoun County, Virginia
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗DeFlock Williamsburg — Williamsburg, Virginia
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗DeFlock the Valley — Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗Live Free VA — Staunton, Virginia
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗Richmond DSA — Richmond, Virginia
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗DeFlock Alexandria — Alexandria, Virginia
Resident group organizing against Flock cameras in Alexandria, Virginia. Updates on Instagram.
Join the fight ↗DeFlock Roanoke — Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke residents organizing against Flock license-plate readers.
Join the fight ↗DeFlock Suffolk — Suffolk, Virginia
Independent, resident-run project tracking Flock license-plate reader cameras in Suffolk, Virginia.
Join the fight ↗Flock & ALPR cameras by city in Virginia
We track 307 Virginia cities and towns with reported cameras — each with its own local report:
Flock & ALPR cameras by county in Virginia
119 Virginia counties have at least one reported camera. Tap any county for its full local report.
Counts come from the open-source DeFlock project’s volunteer reports and update as new cameras are mapped. A county not listed has no reported cameras yet — not necessarily none. Spot one? Report it.