Dane County Board Votes to Withdraw Funds for Flock License Plate Reader Contract

April 16, 2026
CountyBoardPress@danecounty.gov, (608) 228-9053
County Board

DANE COUNTY, Wis. — On Thursday, April 16, 2026, the Dane County Board of Supervisors approved 2025 RES-403, amending the 2026 county budget to remove $80,000 in funding for the Dane County Sheriff's Office use of the Flock automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system and prohibiting further expenditures on the system.

“There are well-documented concerns about how this company operates and uses its technology to violate people’s 4th Amendment rights,” said County Board Chair Patrick Miles. “The board’s action supports protecting our community from a proven bad actor. We have full confidence in our Sheriff and deputies, and we are open to considering other companies that have stronger safeguards in place. At a time when Flock, some of its law enforcement partners, and federal immigration enforcement agencies have been found to collect and misuse personal information for tracking and surveillance in ways that violate constitutional rights, the board has a responsibility to act.”

The resolution cites growing concerns raised by residents, policymakers, and privacy experts about reported and verified abuses of data collected through Flock's ALPR network, including informal data-sharing with federal agencies that bypasses oversight and accountability measures. The Dane County Sheriff's Office had granted access to information gathered by the office's 24 Flock cameras to more than 140 law enforcement agencies, including some in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, and Tennessee.

“Nothing about this action suggests that our deputies have misused this system,” said Supervisor Chad Kemp (District 32), author of the resolution. “But the sheriff's office has not been able to affirmatively confirm that the agencies it shares data with, or Flock itself, are not misusing the information collected by cameras in Dane County. Given what we know about how this technology has been abused elsewhere, the responsible course of action is to end funding for this contract.”

Chair Miles noted that board members have expressed openness to considering alternative ALPR technology not operated by Flock. "This is about one company and its practices, not about whether law enforcement should have access to modern tools," Miles said. "Supervisors remain open to solutions that support public safety while protecting the privacy and civil liberties of everyone in Dane County."

The 2026 county budget included $80,000 for an annual Flock subscription for the sheriff's office. The current subscription runs through May 31, 2026.

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About the Dane County Board of Supervisors: The Dane County Board of Supervisors is the legislative and policymaking body of Dane County government. Composed of 37 supervisors elected to represent each county district, the county board’s mission is to effectively represent the people of Dane County, providing services that secure the blessings of freedom, ensure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and perfect the forms of government. Learn more about the county board at https://board.danecounty.gov/.