Civic Assembly: Use of Automated License Plate Readers in Edgewater

Why is the City holding a Civic Assembly?
The City of Edgewater is taking a closer look at its use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras to determine if they are still serving our community in the best way.

These cameras can help law enforcement:

  • Locate stolen vehicles
  • Identify vehicles connected to crimes
  • Support investigations

At the same time, they raise important questions about:

  • Privacy
  • How data is stored and used
  • Who has access to that information
  • Overall community trust

The City wants to better understand whether the public safety benefits outweigh these concerns.

What will the Civic Assembly do?
The Civic Assembly will bring community members together to:

  • Learn how the technology works
  • Review how it’s currently used in Edgewater
  • Discuss concerns and priorities
  • Help guide future decisions about the program

This includes evaluating:

  • Whether safeguards around data use are strong enough
  • If additional local protections should be put in place
  • Whether continuing the current program aligns with community values and City goals

What is the current situation?

  • Edgewater currently has six license plate reader cameras installed across the city
  • The City is in year three of a five-year contract with Flock Safety

What decisions are being considered?
The City is deciding whether to:

  • Continue using the technology as-is
  • Make changes to policies or safeguards
  • Explore alternative approaches

While federal and state laws already provide protections against unreasonable searches, the City can choose to adopt additional local rules around:

  • Data access
  • Data retention (how long information is kept)
  • Data sharing with outside agencies
  • Oversight and accountability

Why resident input matters
This decision affects everyone, residents, visitors, and local businesses. The Civic Assembly is an opportunity for the community to help shape how Edgewater balances public safety, privacy, transparency, and fairness moving forward.

Learn how to apply for this Civic Assembly

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