This page collects questions people often ask about automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems and how they operate in day to day life in and around Johnson City. Flock is one of the better known ALPR vendors, but this project is about the broader ALPR network and how it works locally, not about any single company’s promotional material.
ALPR stands for automated license plate reader. An ALPR camera is designed to capture still images of vehicles, including a clear view of the license plate, visible vehicle details, the time of the scan, and the GPS location where it was taken. Flock cameras are one brand of ALPR device that works in this way.
Software then extracts the plate text and links it to the time and place so it can be searched later by organizations that have access to that particular system.
ALPR systems, including Flock and other vendors, are used by police departments, homeowner associations, neighborhoods, and businesses of different sizes.
Agencies often say they use ALPRs to look for stolen vehicles, respond to Amber and Silver Alerts, investigate serious crimes, or identify vehicles involved in violent or reckless incidents.
Private neighborhoods and property owners often use the cameras as a monitoring tool to record vehicle traffic in and out of a subdivision, apartment complex, or parking area.
ALPR systems capture every vehicle that passes through the field of view, not just vehicles that are already flagged as suspicious. Each scan becomes a record with an image, plate number, time, and location.
These records can later be searched by someone with access to the system, which is why people often raise questions about retention, sharing, and oversight.
The ALPR record itself contains the plate number, an image of the vehicle, the date and time, and the location. It does not automatically include a person’s name. Access to registration information requires a separate, restricted motor vehicle database.
Even without names included, long term ALPR logs can reveal patterns of movement that may be sensitive, such as where a person lives, works, or regularly travels.
Data retention depends on the operator and the vendor. Flock generally states that data is retained for about 30 days unless a contract or policy specifies something different. Other ALPR vendors may use different defaults.
Some local governments choose shorter or longer retention windows depending on their own rules. The details matter because they shape how much historical driving information is available for search.
ALPR cameras, including Flock systems, are tuned for vehicles and license plates. They take still images of vehicles, often from the rear, rather than trying to scan pedestrians.
People might appear incidentally if they are near the roadway, but the system is focused on vehicles and plates, not on facial recognition of people walking by.
This project maps Johnson City, Tennessee. The dataset is built around ALPR cameras, including Flock and other brands, that are located in or near the Johnson City area.
Nearby towns may have their own ALPR deployments, but those are not part of this project and would require their own local research and mapping work.
The map is updated over time. Cameras can be added or removed and some may be missed. If you see what looks like an ALPR camera that is not listed, you can contact the project with details such as:
These reports help keep the local ALPR map and dataset more accurate.
No. This project does not operate any ALPR systems and does not have access to Flock or other vendors’ tools for searching plates or retrieving images. Only the agencies or organizations that run a given ALPR system can search their own records.
For criminal matters, missing persons, or emergencies you must contact local authorities. This site can describe where cameras are and how the network is set up, but it cannot access or release plate search results or footage.
Since ALPR systems record every passing vehicle, they can reveal a pattern of movement over time. This can show where a person lives, works, travels, or visits, even if they are never suspected of any crime.
Groups such as the ACLU and EFF argue that without clear limits, access rules, and retention policies, this kind of location data could be used in ways the public does not expect. Knowing where ALPR cameras are and how they work is a first step in deciding what kind of rules the community wants.
Note: These answers summarize how ALPR systems, including Flock and similar vendors, are described in public materials and city FAQs. Local policies may differ and may change over time.