Sioux Falls To Stick With License Plate Tracking Cameras For Now

Flock security cameras are here to stay in the Sioux Empire, for now.

That news probably won't surprise Sioux Falls residents who see these cameras as a valuable tool for law enforcement. But many in the community prefer we get these security cameras: "The Flock out of here!"

According to Dakota News Now, the City of Sioux Falls finalized its budget on Tuesday, September 8, and one of the more interesting and controversial items discussed was the city's continued use of Flock Security Cameras.

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For anyone who isn't familiar with them, Flock cameras are automated license plate readers designed to collect information about vehicles traveling through areas where the cameras are installed. Law enforcement can use that information when investigating crimes, while some private neighborhoods also use the technology as an added security tool.

At this time, Sioux Falls has 34 Flock security cameras deployed throughout the city.

These cameras can collect quite a bit of information.

Depending on what is captured, the system can help identify a vehicle's make, model, and color, as well as its direction of travel. It can also record information such as the vehicle's speed and potentially identify distinguishing characteristics.

From a law enforcement perspective, that's obviously valuable information that comes in quite handy.

Imagine a vehicle connected to a crime being reported somewhere in Sioux Falls. Investigators may be able to use Flock data to help determine where that vehicle was, where it came from, or where it went. That's the kind of information that could potentially help put the pieces of an investigation together much faster.

But there's another side to the story.

Some Sioux Falls residents and city leaders have concerns about privacy and whether the widespread use of automated license plate readers crosses a line when it comes to individual rights. With cameras capable of collecting information about vehicles as people go about their everyday lives, some believe the technology raises legitimate Fourth Amendment rights concerns.

That issue was part of the discussion among Sioux Falls City Councilors during Tuesday night's budget meeting.

In the end, the existing Flock camera network will remain part of the city's budget. However, there's no money in the current budget for expanding the network with additional cameras.

The Sioux Falls Police Department considers the Flock system a valuable investigative resource and says the technology will not be misused.

Privacy is still a major concern for some residents, though. Dakota News Now reports that representatives from Flock Safety said company policy prohibits sharing captured images or information with third parties.

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So, whether you see Flock cameras as another layer of protection around Sioux Falls or as a little too much surveillance for your liking, they're not going anywhere just yet.

The city's current contract for the Flock camera system is scheduled to come back before the Sioux Falls City Council for renewal in June 2027.