Residents urge commissioners to reconsider license-plate reader camera use, cite privacy concerns

Two Marshall County residents used the public-comment period on Feb. 2 to press commissioners for review of license-plate reader cameras (referred to in testimony as "flock" systems).

Rob Keck of Redwood Road told the commissioners he believes the cameras record and store all license plates for a 30-day period and said that can pose a privacy risk for law-abiding residents. Keck cited a published case involving a resident named Chrisana Elser (recounted in his remarks) as an example where stored plate data contributed to a mistaken summons and argued the county should carefully consider whether the public’s freedom is being exchanged for safety. "We know everything that you are doing in our town because we have you on camera," Keck said in his comments, urging the commissioners to consider privacy trade-offs.

Another resident, identified as Edward of Peach Road, echoed Keck’s concerns and thanked county staff for their work. Commissioners acknowledged the remarks; one member referenced a news report of a data leak involving license-plate searches in Evansville and noted that law enforcement generally needs a warrant to access certain digital data. The commissioners did not take immediate action but accepted the comments for consideration.

The public-comment exchange was limited to those speakers; no formal policy vote on camera use occurred at the meeting.