BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — The use of automated license plate reader cameras continues to generate questions across the Ohio Valley as residents seek more information about why the technology is being installed and how it is being used.
Some of those concerns have surfaced in St. Clairsville, where residents have reported noticing Flock cameras around the community.
Local officials and law enforcement supporters say the cameras are intended to improve public safety by helping authorities identify vehicles connected to crimes, locate wanted individuals and assist with investigations.
Michael Shaheen, an attorney with Shaheen Law Group and solicitor for the Village of Bridgeport, said he believes the technology can be a valuable public safety tool. However, he also acknowledged that communities could provide residents with more information about the cameras and their purpose.
Shaheen said a lack of information can naturally create uncertainty and concern among residents, adding that local administrators have a responsibility to clearly communicate how and why the technology is being used.
As an example of the potential benefits, Shaheen pointed to a previous child abduction case in which he said authorities were able to locate the child in St. Clairsville.
He said the ability to assist law enforcement in situations involving missing or abducted children, wanted individuals and people fleeing authorities demonstrates the potential value of the camera network.
Flock cameras are automated license plate readers that capture information from passing vehicles that can then be searched by participating law enforcement agencies.
The growing presence of the cameras has also raised broader questions among residents about surveillance, transparency and how information collected by the systems may be accessed or shared.
The debate comes as more Ohio Valley communities consider how to balance the potential public safety benefits of the technology with residents’ concerns about privacy and government transparency.
