York voters could ban Flock cameras in November
YORK — Residents in this coastal Maine community will decide this fall whether to dismantle a network of automatic license plate readers that has drawn scrutiny over privacy concerns and government surveillance.
The York Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday to place a question on the November ballot that, if approved by a majority of voters, would require all automatic license plate reader cameras to be decommissioned and removed from town. The measure would also prohibit future installation of surveillance technology without explicit voter consent.
The ballot question stems from a citizen petition titled "Stop ALPRs" that gathered signatures from approximately 115 residents — enough to trigger a public hearing under the town's Home Rule Charter. During that hearing Tuesday evening, multiple speakers argued the cameras represent an overreach of government authority into residents' private lives.
"I believe that the risk of misuse and abuse from the surveillance system is much greater than any benefit made to the York citizens," said resident Bill Goodwin.
Resident Tom Hedger went further, invoking a recent Supreme Court decision protecting location data as constitutionally protected information. The June ruling mandated that government tracking of an individual's movements constitutes a search requiring a warrant.
"I would argue, based on Supreme Court rulings, neither York citizens nor the police have the right to approve surveillance of citizens in violation of our Fourth Amendment rights," Hedger said. "It would be prudent to follow precedents of other cities and states that recognize the risk and simply remove the use surveillance cameras."
A mapping site called Deflock has identified six license plate readers currently operating in York. Four are manufactured by Flock Safety — two positioned along Shore Road and two scanning vehicles on Route 1. Two additional readers are located at the north and southbound Maine Turnpike toll booths near Chases Pond Road, operated by the Maine Turnpike Authority. All are used by local law enforcement.
Petition organizer Alex Fedyk said the effort was designed to give residents a voice they were denied when the cameras were originally installed.
"They were not asked to weigh in on the cameras' installation," Fedyk told the Select Board. "This petition was meant to give voters a chance to make a decision about Flock for themselves."
Some residents urged the Select Board to bypass the ballot and simply remove the cameras, noting that cities including Denver and Chicago have banned similar surveillance technology without voter input. However, town officials said the Home Rule Charter requires resident approval before any action can be taken.
Town Manager Peter Joseph and Select Board Chair Todd Frederick confirmed that the town cannot legally remove the cameras until after residents cast their votes on November 3.
York's debate unfolds amid a broader national conversation about the devices. Maine is one of three states — alongside New Hampshire and Arkansas — that currently prohibits private entities from deploying automatic license plate readers. Two additional cameras operated by law enforcement sit on the grounds of the Cliff House Hotel, a private property. Hotel General Manager Nancy White said the devices were added in 2022 as a safety measure.
"We are a member of American Hotel Lodging Association, and we are all very large advocates to prevent human trafficking," White said. She emphasized that hotel management receives no reports from the cameras and that the devices are intended solely as an aid to law enforcement.
To White's knowledge, law enforcement has not identified any concerning activity at the hotel through the camera system.
The York Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.
If voters approve the November measure, any future deployment of surveillance technology in town would require a separate vote. A "no" vote would leave the existing camera network in place.
