Oakland approves contract with Flock Safety for license-plate cameras

Oakland approves Flock Safety contract for license-plate cameras

The Oakland City Council voted 7-1 to approve a two-year, $2.2 million contract with Flock Safety for license-plate cameras. The move will allow Oakland to integrate existing Flock cameras run by the CHP and neighborhood groups.

OAKLAND, Calif. - After four hours of discussion, the Oakland City Council voted 7-1 on Tuesday night to approve a two-year contract with Flock Safety for license-plate cameras across the city.

Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife cast the lone dissenting vote, saying, "Flock no!"

The Oakland Police Department proposed the addition of 40 more Flock Safety cameras. The city currently has about 300 cameras in use, which have been operated by California Highway Patrol, by order of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Some residents have raised concerns about how data collected by the cameras could be shared with federal law enforcement agencies, including immigration officers. 

Police officials say the data is not shared and argue the additional cameras would help solve crimes.

Oakland to vote on expanded use of surveillance cameras

The Oakland City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a proposal to expand the use of license plate readers and surveillance cameras across the city.