A Flock Safety license plate reader camera uses a proprietary algorithm to identify a license plate, vehicle make, type and color.
Lake County officials want to know more about how data is used before determining whether automatic license plate readers should be allowed on county-owned highway rights of way.
Members of the county board’s public works, transportation and planning committee agree high-speed cameras can help law enforcement but are wary of unintended consequences involving potential privacy issues.
“There are some concerns of who has access to this information and when,” said committee member John Wasik of Grayslake.
“Our responsibility is things are not always used as intended,” said committee member Ann Maine of Lincolnshire.
The high-speed, computer-controlled cameras capture license plate numbers, location, date and time, a photograph of the vehicle, the driver and/or passengers.
In early October, the county staff was directed to study the possibility of allowing readers to be installed along several county highways in Zion’s municipal limit. The city already has readers in its jurisdiction and wants to add more.
“The push to our community is to improve the safety of citizens by using technology,” Zion police Chief Eric Barden told the committee.
Several other communities also have notified the Lake County Division of Transportation they are considering using the readers, according to Shane Schneider, director of transportation and county engineer.
Read more here.
Related: “Libertyville police planning license plate readers at five locations”
Has anyone noticed that BOTH FLOCK CAMERAS on west side of BH are located on land parcels owned by the same owners in the two different locations on Spring Creek (which is on Unincorporated McHenry land) and Haegers Bend near their polebarn. Was wondering if they are friends or associates with security? That entity is mega wealthy and can afford their own security cameras. How much does Flock (based in Georgia) get paid from the taxpayers of BH? Does it just take photos of license plates or does it post, the time and day and their speed as well? Just wondering.