Guides & resources
Start here. Then go do something useful.
You do not need to learn everything about surveillance before you can help. Pick the thing you are trying to do and use the guide that gets you there.
Start here
Get oriented.
New to the issue? Begin with the scope, local situation and the words you are likely to encounter.
Start Here: What ALPRs Do and Why We Want Them RemovedA five-minute introduction to searchable vehicle-location records, ordinary cameras, investigative benefits, safeguards and removal.What This Campaign CoversUnderstand the line between ordinary cameras, targeted investigation and networked mass vehicle tracking.My City Is Considering Flock. What Do I Do?A rapid-response playbook for stopping an ALPR purchase before the contract is signed.My City Already Has Flock. What Do I Do?Find the current agreement, the next nonrenewal window and the path toward removal.How We Research Your CommunitySee how contracts, policies, costs, mapping, sharing, deadlines and unknowns become a reliable local picture.ALPR & Flock Plain-English GlossaryDecode common ALPR terms, Flock product names, sharing language and contract jargon.
Research
Find the facts.
Establish what your government actually bought, how it works locally and when the next decision happens.
Research Your MunicipalityFind contracts, packets, policies, budgets, meeting videos and the next decision point.Find & Request Public RecordsA practical Michigan-focused guide to useful, focused FOIA requests.Contracts, Costs & Renewal WindowsFind the agreement terms, spending and notice deadlines that turn concern into a real nonrenewal campaign.Who Can Access the Data?Understand sharing, retention, user access and the difference between local cameras and searchable network reach.How to Read a Flock Transparency PortalDecode camera counts, detections, searches, hot-list hits, retention and missing information.How to Read an ALPR PolicyUnderstand written rules for access, searches, sharing, retention, alerts, audits and misuse.Camera Mapping & VerificationMap safely and lawfully using DeFlock’s current physical-verification rules.How We Handle EvidenceHow we separate confirmed facts, credible reporting, leads and unknowns.
Understand
Understand the argument.
Dig into the technology, evidence, public-safety case, documented harms and current legal landscape.
Why It MattersUnderstand why searchable movement history is different from simply being visible on a public road.How Much Can These Systems Actually See?Separate basic plate reading from vehicle search, AI-assisted analysis, video products and networked capabilities.Beyond License Plates: Raven & CondorUnderstand Flock acoustic sensors, live video, zoom, people alerts and the risks created when they connect with ALPR data.Flock Nova, Personal Data & Private CamerasSee how Nova and FlockOS can connect police records, public information, vehicle data and participating camera networks—and what happened to the planned Ring integration.Flock Claims vs. the Public RecordCompare common assurances with sourced incidents involving people search, sensitive camera feeds, security failures, misuse, sharing and retention.Do ALPRs Work? What the Evidence Actually SaysA balanced look at operational benefits, vehicle-theft research, deterrence evidence and the limits of effectiveness claims.Documented Misuse, Failures & HarmReview sourced examples of personal misuse, false matches, access failures and other documented harms.ALPR Hits, Traffic Stops & False MatchesUnderstand hit confirmation, false matches, verification and why an automated alert should remain an investigative lead.The Fourth Amendment & Location TrackingA careful plain-English guide to the major location-tracking cases and the unsettled ALPR-specific legal landscape.Michigan ALPR Law: What Applies Right Now?Understand Michigan LEIN rules, constitutional context, pending 2026 legislation and why local rules still matter.Public Safety Without Mass TrackingSee how supporting serious investigations can coexist with rejecting collect-first mass tracking.For Police & Public-Safety ProfessionalsA respectful explanation of our disagreement with the system, not the people who use it.
Take action
Move the decision.
Turn reliable information into a clear request to the people who can make the local decision.
Contact Local OfficialsTalk with decision makers without sounding scripted, hostile or vague.Questions for Local Officials Before RenewalA concise oversight checklist residents can send directly to trustees, council members and other decision makers.Prepare for a Public Government MeetingFind the meeting that matters, prepare a short comment and make a clear ask.What Happens When a Community DeFlocks?Confirm nonrenewal, shutdown, data disposition, removal and the absence of an equivalent replacement.
Organize
Build local capacity.
Build a lawful, useful local effort without creating unnecessary bureaucracy or burning people out.
Start a Local EffortA simple path for residents outside Redford to organize their own municipality.Community OutreachExplain the issue clearly, build rapport and help people think without pushing them.Campaign MaterialsDownload current flyers, Redford materials, the officials briefing and approved logo files.Events & Local MeetupsKeep gatherings lightweight, useful and tied to a concrete next action.Conduct StandardsThe member-facing rules for lawful, peaceful, factual participation.
External tools
Use good tools that already exist.
DeFlock Metro Detroit does not need to rebuild every national resource.
New here?
Understand. Look local. Pick one step.
Read Why It Matters, look at your community, then choose one useful action. You can learn the rest when you need it.