In modern law enforcement and criminal defense, Flock cameras have become ubiquitous “digital witnesses” on American roadways. These are not merely cameras; they are License Plate Recognition (LPR) systems that capture high-speed, objective data to track vehicle movements in real-time. Evidence obtained both easily and with much difficulty show Flock can provide powerful photos to build a prosecutor’s case, provide the “alibi of the digital age” for the defense, and even challenge the constitutionality of parts of the investigation.

What the regular Flock photo evidence tells us

Recent Flock evidence provided the defendant (as seen in these two images in one recent case) provides more than just a picture; it includes:

• Plate & Vehicle Identification: Accurate captures of plates (e.g., Missouri plate Exx xxL.
• Precise Geolocation: Every “hit” includes GPS coordinates (e.g., xx.xx29, -xx.xx98) and specific location descriptions like “Hwy xx @ xxxx” in xxx County; and north/south/east/west bound.
• Precise Timing: Date and time of the image(s)

What the regular Flock photo evidence does not tell us

• A Flock FAQ claims, “Flock LPR cameras only capture vehicle data. They do not collect personal information, facial recognition, or anything tied to individuals.”

Standard retention period of Flock photos

If the photo is saved by a LEO, it “retained” but if the defendant wants obtain photographic and other evidence (maybe an alternate suspect’s vehicle captured by a Flock camera during the same timeframe as the alleged crime, according to Flock, it generally retains such evidence for 30 days.

As it notes in a FAQ: “Flock respects existing LPR retention laws and regulations that differ from 30 days. If a customer wishes to impose a longer retention period that is not already required by its jurisdiction’s laws, Flock will offer an extended retention for up to one year, but shall require the agency to first obtain approval from an elected official and/or a governing body.”

Special LEO “search evidence”

• One piece of Flock evidence seldom produced independently (and never produced independently in my experience) by “the State” is the search data-specifically, what the LEO investigating a crime typed into the “Flock” to find photographic, geolocation, and date/time evidence.
• After learning about such a “digital search” in a deposition, the LEO produced the following (all redactions are mine for this post):

Here is what this search evidence can reveal:

• LEO Intent & Justification: Reports reveal the “Reason” behind a query—such as “arrest warrant,” “suspicious activity,” or “dwr” (driving while revoked)—offering a window into the officer’s state of mind and legal justification for the search.
• Temporal Tracking: Systems log exactly when a vehicle was searched for online by a LEO, etc.

Flock is widely used and not only by law enforcement (over but also homeowner associations, etc., including around here:

Action:

If you believe a vehicle has been captured on Flock that may help your defense, let me/your attorney know ASAP, as noted above, unless saved by the LEO, Flock only keeps the data for 30 days which is often too short of a time to be available.