The Fairfax County Public Schools board is scheduled to consider a motion Thursday that would bar Flock license-plate cameras from school property. FCPS does not currently have Flock cameras on its property. The motion, introduced by School Board Vice Chairman Kyle McDaniel, would leave school-bus stop-arm cameras and speed cameras unaffected.
What the Motion Would and Wouldn't Do
According to FOX 5 DC, Flock cameras are not currently used on Fairfax County Public Schools property, meaning the board's action would be preemptive rather than a response to an existing installation. The proposed motion would not prohibit or restrict school-bus stop-arm cameras, and it would leave speed cameras alone as well, the outlet reports. School board member Sandy Anderson has voiced support for the proposal to keep Flock cameras off school property, per the same report.
The vote is scheduled for Thursday’s Fairfax County school board meeting, which begins at 4 p.m. FOX 5 DC reports that action items, including the Flock motion, are expected closer to 9 p.m.
Why Flock Cameras Have Become a Flashpoint
FOX 5 DC describes Flock cameras as automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, that capture license plates and associated date, time and location information. Flock likewise says its cameras record vehicle events, including a license plate and when and where a vehicle passed, according to flocksafety.com.
FOX 5 DC reports that Fairfax County police have credited Flock cameras with helping recover multiple stolen vehicles.
Data Retention and Ownership Claims
Flock says images are automatically deleted after seven days by default, except when applicable law or an authorized investigation requires otherwise.
A Broader County-Wide Reckoning
The debate has also reached beyond FCPS. FOX 5 DC reported that a congressional subcommittee held a hearing on Flock cameras Wednesday. Separately, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to pause new countywide Flock-camera installations, citing broader concerns about the technology, and scheduled a review for October.
Another Virginia County’s Response
Virginia local governments have taken different approaches to Flock deployments. Patch reported that on Sept. 15 the Arlington County Board directed its county manager to stop using county-leased Flock technology and begin removing 41 cameras, while leaving privately owned cameras unaffected. Arlington’s decision concerns an existing county deployment; FCPS is considering a restriction on school property where the cameras are not currently used.
At FCPS, the decision before the board is whether to bar Flock cameras from school property before any are installed there, while leaving stop-arm and speed cameras outside the motion’s scope.
