Green River, Wyoming residents opposed a nearly $112,000 anti-terrorism grant for license plate reader cameras, and the City Council and mayor voted 6-1 against approving the grant award.

Concerns Over Digital Tracking

Flock cameras, manufactured by Flock Safety, are specialized Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems that capture still images of passing vehicles. Concerns about digital tracking and the potential for out-of-state police departments to monitor motorists’ daily movements without a warrant or probable cause have been raised.

While sold as tools to catch violent criminals or recover stolen vehicles, investigations reveal some agencies have queried the database for minor infractions, civil disputes, or background checks.

Wyoming is a state with many small towns, where people know each other, and that is what works best. High-tech tools help police in many ways, but small-town policing often does not need such technology.

Many governments feel the need to spend any grant money that is offered to them. However, in many cases, the best answer is just to say no thanks and not accept the money, especially considering the nation’s nearly $40 trillion debt.

Original reporting: K2 Radio (Casper) — read the source article.