The Sonoma City Council meets tonight to decide whether to stick with its controversial “Flock” license plate reader system for another three years.
Per the Sonoma Index-Tribune, the fifty-thousand-dollar contract renewal would keep sixteen high-tech cameras stationed across the city through 2028, a move local police say is essential for tracking down stolen vehicles and solving high-profile cases.
However, the proposal is sparking a heated debate over privacy, with groups like Wake Up Sonoma calling for stricter rules on how that data is stored and shared.
While Mayor Ron Wellander points to the system’s “return on investment,” critics are demanding a formal ordinance to ensure the tech doesn’t turn into a tool for mass surveillance.