The Grand Rapids Public Safety Committee will get a briefing on the city’s use of automated license plate readers at a meeting Tuesday morning.
Representatives from the company that makes the controversial readers are also scheduled to speak.
The briefing comes after residents have spoken out against the city’s use of cameras made by Flock Safety. The company says the cameras can help locate stolen cars, or track a suspect’s movements.
But resident Steve Bennett argued at a city commission meeting on August 11 that the system of cameras can also be misused, to track innocent people.
“Is this what you want?” Bennett asked commissioners. “You’re a representative of my community, your community. Do you really want a police state?”
As a number of residents urged commissioners to stop using the cameras entirely, some commissioners said they would be open to reviewing policies.
“Flock is not just a license plate reader, it has additional functionality, it is a connected system, so it’s different,” said commissioner Kelsey Perdue. “And so I think it is a good time to look at, have our rules kept pace with this new age style of technology?”
A notice for the Public Safety Committee meeting said the Grand Rapids Police Department and representatives from Flock safety will give a presentation on how the technology is used, “and address common misconceptions about the technology.”
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. at city hall.
