State legislators start petition to ban Flock cameras

Republican state Reps. Quentin Chapman, David Boyer and Laurel Libby launched a citizen initiative effort in Auburn to place a local ban on Flock cameras on the ballot in November. 

Signature collectors will be at the three Auburn polling places on Election Day on Tuesday asking residents to sign a petition to prohibit the cameras, which some law enforcement agencies rely on to read license plates to flag if a vehicle is connected to an active investigation. 

“Flock cameras represent an unprecedented expansion of government surveillance that threatens the privacy and civil liberties of every Mainer,” said Chapman, who along with Libby represents Auburn. “Auburn families should not have to accept constant monitoring simply for driving on our streets. This petition gives our residents a direct voice in deciding whether these cameras belong in our city.”

Boyer, who lives in neighboring Poland, is also the lead sponsor of a proposed statewide ban on Flock cameras. While it won’t be considered until the state Legislature reconvenes in January, Boyer submitted a bill to ban municipalities and police departments from using the cameras, except for those used for toll collection. 

These proposals come as Maine towns are increasingly relying on Artificial Intelligence for policing and as, nationwide, Flock cameras have been accessed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine has described this technology as a “type of dragnet surveillance” that “poses a significant threat to our Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches by government authorities.”