INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana congressman said he considers federal use of Flock camera databases an unconstitutional invasion of privacy.
Rep. Marlin Stutzman, a Republican, filed legislation earlier this fall, called the Don’t Spy on Me Act, to prohibit federal law enforcement agencies from using so-called vehicle fingerprinting databases. This refers to databases of data that match license plates with other vehicle descriptors such as make, model, color, body damage or bumper stickers.
Stutzman said he was in contact with Fort Wayne leaders when controversy erupted in that city over the use of automated license plate readers such as Flock cameras. Fort Wayne is the largest city in Stutzman’s northeast Indiana district. The Fort Wayne Police Department ultimately terminated its contract with Flock.
“They can have a warrant to access information, but we don’t want the federal government to be using the Flock data system as their own system,” he said. “Personally, I would like to see Flock cameras outlawed altogether. I don’t think any company or any government should have that sort of information that readily available to them.”
Stutzman said he believes legislation surrounding automated license plate readers is one area for possible bipartisan cooperation in the new Congress, which will feature substantial Democratic majorities. He said both liberal and conservative special-interest groups have come out against the use of those systems. Stutzman said he supports law enforcement use of other systems, such as body cameras or dash cams, but he believes setting up general surveillance cameras everywhere is an invasion of privacy that might violate the Constitution.
“All INdiana Politics” airs at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on WISH-TV and at 11:30 p.m. Sunday on WRTV.
