By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
New Hanover County, NC — County officials have confirmed the use of Flock Safety license‑plate recognition cameras has been scraped, ending a multi‑year deployment that underwent extensive internal review. The decision followed months of examining how the system operated, how its data was accessed, and whether the technology met expectations for transparency and oversight.
County leaders said the cameras have already been deactivated and will be removed as the contract winds down.
The system captured license plates, timestamps, and vehicle characteristics for investigative searches, and officials said shutting down data collection and disabling data‑sharing were among the first steps taken during the phase‑out.
During the county’s evaluation, internal records and system documentation outlined how the ALPR network had been used, including the volume of searches conducted and the level of access available through national‑network sharing. Residents who reviewed those materials raised concerns about data‑retention practices, the scale of queries, and whether the technology enabled broad retrieval of vehicle‑movement information. Commissioners said those issues weighed heavily in their decision to discontinue the program.
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office noted that the cameras had supported certain investigations, but staff confirmed the county’s directive would be followed. Access restrictions and the shutdown of national sharing were put in place early in the review period while officials assessed the system’s future.
Public comments reflected a divided response. Some residents supported ending the program, citing privacy risks and limited guardrails on data use. Others said the cameras provided investigative value and hoped any future technology would include stronger oversight and clearer limits.
County officials have not announced whether a replacement system will be considered. They have emphasized that any future public‑safety technology would require careful evaluation, including how it aligns with community expectations for privacy, accountability, and responsible data management.
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