Gov. Josh Shapiro and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity have both called for banning Flock cameras and similar automated license plate reader systems in Pennsylvania.
“Flock cameras are an intrusive invasion of privacy and they should be banned,” Garrity, the Republican candidate for governor, said Tuesday.
Shapiro said Friday that he would support bipartisan legislation banning the cameras statewide. He said the Pennsylvania State Police does not use Flock cameras and that the devices are not permitted on state property or Pennsylvania Department of Transportation roadways.
Several state lawmakers have announced legislation addressing the technology.
Republican state Sen. Dan Laughlin plans to introduce legislation prohibiting Flock Safety cameras and similar networked systems. Laughlin said the systems can identify vehicles, record their movements and place the information in a searchable network.
Democratic state Sen. Lisa Boscola is proposing legislation that would prohibit unauthorized or unlawful access to automated surveillance systems and their data. Her proposal would continue allowing legitimate access for criminal investigations, public safety, missing-person cases, court-authorized purposes and other lawful duties.
Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano is proposing restrictions on the routine collection and retention of motorists’ movements. His legislation would include exceptions for investigations involving stolen vehicles, abducted children, wanted fugitives and vehicles connected to crimes.
Democratic state Sens. Nick Pisciottano and Patty Kim also plan to introduce legislation intended to limit access to personal data collected by Flock cameras and similar systems. Their measure would accompany a bipartisan House proposal led by Rep. Tarik Khan.
At least six bills limiting automated license plate reader systems have been introduced in the Pennsylvania House. Senate Bill 933, introduced last year with support from seven Republican senators, would expand the use of the technology on state-owned infrastructure for law enforcement purposes.
Flock Safety said its technology supported more than 1 million investigations, helped solve 20% of cleared cases and assisted in locating more than 10,000 missing people nationwide, according to its 2025 Impact Census.
Franklin County recently agreed to end its contract with Flock Safety despite objections from the county sheriff’s department. Abington Township commissioners in Montgomery County also voted to replace the police department’s Flock Safety system with one that police said would place additional limits on data sharing.
Automated license plate readers are also being debated outside Pennsylvania. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently called the use of the cameras “out of control,” while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras. Sixteen states have laws expressly addressing the technology, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
