The Flagstaff City Council will discuss whether it should keep a camera system mounted on city streets on Tuesday. It's popular with police but not some residents. It was also opposed by leaders of neighboring cities.
At issue is an automated license plate reader system the city purchased from Flock Safety. The city mounted 32 throughout Flagstaff, and officials say police have used them in the arrest of a local homicide suspect and to help catch a fatal hit-and-run driver.
Twenty-five residents have signed onto a petition to have the city end its agreement with Flock Safety in order to "free Flagstaff from invasive surveillance."
Brendan Trachsel led the petition and said he's concerned the system is ripe for abuse.
"The taxpayers are funding a system that allows the government essentially to have dragnet surveillance for the people on their daily movements on main thoroughfares," he said.
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