Cheektowaga residents debate adding more license plate reader cameras

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CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WKBW) — The debate over privacy and public safety is back in focus in Cheektowaga, one of Buffalo’s largest suburbs, as town leaders consider expanding their network of automated license plate readers.

The town already operates 29 Flock Safety cameras mounted on utility poles across the area. The cameras use artificial intelligence and machine learning to process and analyze data. Now, officials want to add 2 more at a cost of $3,000 each, annually.

At Tuesday night’s town board meeting, Police Chief Brian Coons outlined the proposal, citing an increase in the efficiency of law enforcement cases. Representatives from Flock Safety also delivered a presentation to address concerns about how the tools work and how the data is used.

Trevor Chandler, public affairs director for Flock Safety, said the cameras do not use facial recognition and are not connected to DMV or individual records.

“No, there is no facial recognition. These cameras are positioned to capture the rear of a vehicle to get the best read of the license plate and vehicle characteristics. These are not connected to the DMV records. These are not connected to individual records,” Chandler said.

Chandler said the technology focuses solely on vehicles identified as being involved in a crime or vehicles of interest, not people.

“Flock’s license plate readers has been fully endorsed by the Oakland chapter of the NAACP, and they specifically cite the impact that license plate reader cameras have on reducing bias because it’s not looking at who’s driving the car. It’s not looking at the people, it’s looking for the vehicles that are associated with crimes without the risk of over policing,” Chandler said.