Council requests policy review after residents raise privacy concerns about license‑plate readers

A public speaker told the Town Council on June 16 that Cave Creek’s implementation of Flock license‑plate reader cameras deserves public scrutiny and that residents should have had a clearer role in approving mass‑surveillance tools.

Resident Jared Stenson told the council he had read staff reports but remained concerned that the town implemented the cameras through a budget line rather than a discrete public debate. ‘‘The core issue before us is not how we regulate these cameras,’’ Stenson said, ‘‘but whether the residents of Cave Creek actually want them tracking our movements in the first place.’’

Town staff responded that several neighboring municipalities and the town’s risk pool had accepted similar systems but that councilmembers had asked for stronger privacy safeguards. The town attorney and staff said they had reviewed one policy example and would examine additional, more‑stringent policies used elsewhere. Staff committed to return in September with recommended policy changes designed to preserve privacy while maintaining investigatory benefits where appropriate.

What council asked for: Staff to review policies from other cities (including those that have restricted or canceled similar systems), identify options for data retention limits, access controls, audit trails and public transparency, and present an ordinance or administrative policy as appropriate. The town attorney said the council retains the option to prohibit a license‑plate‑reading system entirely if it so chooses.

Status: No ordinance or policy change was adopted at the meeting; staff will present recommendations when council reconvenes in September.