Mayor Danny Avula's remarks on Flock and Automatic License Plate Reader Technology; Sep. 19, 2026

Our Take

When a sitting mayor goes on the record about his city's relationship with Flock Safety, it's worth paying attention — not because politicians' words are binding, but because they signal which way the political wind is blowing. Richmond has clearly been wrestling with its ALPR program, and Mayor Danny Avula's remarks, as captured by the city's own channel, are part of a broader reckoning playing out in city halls across the country. Credit to Richmond Virginia's channel for putting this on the record so residents can judge for themselves.

Here's the thing about mayoral statements on surveillance tech: they're often long on reassurance and short on specifics. Promises of "oversight" and "responsible use" sound good in a press conference, but they rarely come with hard caps on data retention, independent audits, or real consequences when a department misuses the system. Richmond residents deserve to know exactly how many cameras are up, who can query the data, how long it's stored, and whether it's being shared with federal agencies or out-of-state police. Vague commitments don't answer those questions — public records and hard policy do.

If you're in Richmond or anywhere else wondering whether Flock cameras are already watching your commute, check our map to see what's been documented near you. And if you want to push your local officials past talking points toward actual policy limits, our take-action resources can help you make your voice heard before the next council vote.