Atlanta mayor proposes rules for license plate cameras

What Dickens is proposing

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens plans to introduce legislation at the Sept. 21 City Council meeting to establish permanent citywide rules for public safety cameras and related technology. The proposal would build on safeguards already used by the Atlanta Police Department while applying a broader framework across city government.

The plan covers 10 areas: citywide standards, use policies, access controls, data governance, required audits, independent oversight, vendor accountability, reviews of new technology, public transparency and safeguards for temporary deployments. It would bar discriminatory or viewpoint-based uses and prohibit use of city systems or data for personal, commercial or other unauthorized purposes. The mayor’s office wants council members to move toward approval within 60 days of the announcement.

Misuse prompts scrutiny

Atlanta is continuing its partnership with Flock Safety as license plate readers face increased scrutiny in Georgia and nationally. Thousands of Flock and other automated license plate reader cameras operate along Georgia roads.

Over the past several months, more than two dozen sworn officers and civilian law enforcement employees in Georgia have been fired, charged or accused of conducting personal searches through Flock systems. Some cases involved searches used to track former romantic partners, children or other people for stalking or harassment.

Flock has introduced an internal audit system to flag suspicious searches. It also changed its default data-retention period from 30 days to seven days. Some law enforcement agencies, homeowners associations and other community partners have canceled contracts or removed cameras.

Atlanta police review

The Atlanta Police Department has revised its license plate recognition policy. In August, the department audited 115,578 Flock searches conducted in 2026 and flagged 79 for an additional review.