Flock Cameras: What You Need to Know
The short version: A judicial candidate wading into the Flock debate shows ALPR surveillance is becoming a real campaign issue, even in courtroom races.
Our Take
It says something about how far this issue has traveled that a candidate for judge is now making campaign content about Flock Safety cameras. Michael Sawicky, running for 47th District Court Judge, put out a video titled "Flock Cameras: What You Need to Know," and whatever your local politics, the fact that ALPR surveillance is showing up in judicial races is worth noting on its own.
We don't know the details Sawicky lays out in his video — we're not going to put words in his mouth — but the broader point stands: license plate readers are no longer a niche infrastructure question decided quietly by city councils and police chiefs. They're becoming a topic candidates think voters care about, including people who may someday rule on warrants, subpoenas, and evidence tied to this exact technology. That's a meaningful shift.
Whether or not you're in his district, it's a good moment to check whether Flock cameras are already watching your own streets. Look up your area on our map, and if you find them, our take-action page has concrete steps for pushing back at the local level.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of Michael Sawicky for 47th District Court Judge, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.