CLEVELAND — An Ohio lawmaker filed a bill in the statehouse that aims to add oversight of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) such as Flock Cameras.
The bill, filed by Republican Ohio State Senator Al Cutrona, outlines additional regulations against ALPRs.
“We don’t want to live in a nanny state; we also don’t want to live in a surveillance state, and frankly that is what Ohio has become without any guardrails with the Flock cameras,” Cutrona previously told News 5.
Watch previous coverage: Senator proposes restrictions to curb Flock misuse
The bill establishes strict data retention limits, requiring government entities to delete captured surveillance data within 10 days of collection, with narrow exceptions for active legal proceedings, court orders or data obtained via a valid search warrant. A violation of this rule would be considered a fourth-degree felony if this bill becomes law.
A Highland Heights part-time dispatcher resigned after police found out about tens of thousands of searches not connected to police work.
“The misuse portion of that has been eye-opening. I think most of my constituents had concerns; now those concerns have become reality,” Cutrona said
Government entities would also be prohibited from selling, transferring or sharing captured surveillance data with private persons. The bill would require a search warrant before sharing such data with other government entities.
How would that look in Cleveland?
Audit logs show that in just one month, last Sept. 1, 2025 police agencies from across the country accessed Cleveland’s cameras. Police in Houston, Texas searched 8,496 times, followed by Columbus police at 2,296 and Louisville at 1,697 searches.
That would mean a lot of warrant work.
“They would need to contact a judge to be able to access this information to track it and trail it,” Cutrona said.
Monthly internal audits of ALPR and surveillance data use would also become a requirement, with annual reports summarizing those audits submitted to the Ohio Attorney General.
The legislation creates significant new protections for individual privacy by banning the operation of ALPR systems or mass surveillance technology within 500 feet of any place of worship or firearms retailer.
Additionally, the bill provides grounds for private citizens to pursue civil litigation against any person or government entity that violates these provisions.
Police in Medina and Akron have previously voiced support for Flock Cameras, saying the technology has proven its value after it recently helped officers find missing and endangered people in two separate incidents.
Cleveland Public Safety is shopping for one or more tech companies for gunshot detection, first responder drones and license plate readers.
In July, after community backlash and heavy scrutiny of Flock, city council approved a 6-month, $125,000 Flock extension.
Currently, Cleveland has 100 license plate readers.
The city put out a request to see what other companies had to offer.
In Lorain County, Sheriff Jack Hall is done with Flock after just two years.
The county began using its 15 license plate readers in 2024.
“Being useful does not mean a technology is worthy of its price,” Hall said.
Last week, Hall posted on social media saying he can no longer justify the cost with an expected increase from $58,658 to $105,000 for the next two years.
“Every dollar we spend on one program is a dollar we can not spend somewhere else,” Hall said.
Hall said the discussion about guardrails and privacy should continue but said in his county, the numbers spoke for themselves.
“Technology should make law enforcement more effective; it should never become an expense that government continues paying simply because we’ve always paid it,” Hall said.
