Merced County is extending the use of flock cameras until 2030 #flockcameras #mercedcounty
The short version: Merced County is locking in Flock Safety's ALPR network through 2030, turning a 'temporary' surveillance pilot into a decade-long fixture with little public debate.
Our Take
CBS47 KSEE24 reports that Merced County is extending its Flock Safety contract out to 2030 — another example of how these ALPR deals rarely stay "temporary." Departments sell these systems as short-term tools for solving specific crimes, but renewal after renewal quietly cements a permanent surveillance grid with almost no fresh public input once the ink is dry.
A six-year extension means years more of every driver's plate, location, and travel pattern logged and stored, available to local cops and, through Flock's networked system, potentially shared far beyond county lines. These multi-year commitments make it harder for residents or even future elected officials to scale back or shut down the program once it's embedded in the budget and daily policing routine.
If you live in or near Merced County, check our camera map to see what's already watching your streets, and visit take-action for ways to push your local government toward real oversight before the next contract renews itself again.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of CBS47 KSEE24, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.