Another Georgia deputy was arrested Sep. 14 for misusing Flock’s database.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), on Sept. 8, the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to investigate Deputy Bentley Hughes.
An accusation surfaced accusing Hughes of misusing the CCSO Flock Safety system.
The investigation found that the allegations were true, and less than a week later, the 37-year-old turned himself in to the Colquitt County Jail.
Hughes lost his job with Colquitt County and faces charges of violation of oath of office and misuse of a license plate reader system.
In Georgia, individuals charged with violation of oath of office face up to five years in jail and up to $5,000 in fines.
Georgians charged with misuse of a license plate reader system face up to 12 months in jail and $5,000.
Flock Misuse in Georgia
Compared to other states, Georgia sees significantly more cases of Flock misuse.
Out of 233 cases of ALPR misuse documented in the IJ Database of ALPR Abuse, 81, or 34%, occurred in Georgia.
Over the past few months, more than 20 officers statewide have been arrested for using Flock for non-authorized reasons.
Statewide Pushback
Alongside an increasing number of cases of Flock misuse has been more pushback in Georgia.
In counties statewide, more and more cameras have been vandalized with paint, projectiles, tape, and other methods.
Georgians have also been holding rallies to protest ALPR abuse at universities, city halls, and the Flock headquarters.
Flock’s Home Base
There are several reasons why ALPR misuse may be more rampant in Georgia.
Flock Safety only started making frequent headline appearances recently, but the company opened its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2017.
Because the company got its start in Atlanta, Georgia was the first state to become familiar with its ALPRs.
Although Flock’s cameras can be spotted across the nation now, its home state still sees more than most.
According to Finding Flock, Georgia has the third-most Flock cameras of any state.
But with there being 70.4 cameras per 100,000 residents, the state has the highest density of Flocks per capita.
Unsurprisingly, police departments in major cities like Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, and others see many ALPRs. Yet even small towns like Centerville, with less than 10,000 residents, have cameras scattered throughout the town.