Documented Incident
Blaine County sheriff to remove Flock camera in Carey, Idaho, after city says it was never consulted
First reported: September 23, 2026 · 4 sources
Blaine County Sheriff Morgan Ballis said he will remove a Flock automated license plate reader camera installed along Highway 20 within Carey city limits, on Idaho Transportation Department right-of-way. Carey Mayor Logan Davis said the camera was placed without the knowledge of local elected officials or residents, and that the city had spent roughly a year seeking its removal. The announcement came hours before the city council was set to deliberate an ordinance sharply limiting ALPR use in Carey. Ballis, who said the site was chosen before he took office, also said he has notified Flock that the county will not allow its contract to auto-renew.
The dispute highlights how ALPR cameras can be sited on state right-of-way inside a municipality without city approval, and shows a sheriff pausing renewal pending public input — a process other jurisdictions weighing surveillance contracts may look to.
Key facts
- The camera sits on Idaho Transportation Department right-of-way on Highway 20 inside Carey city limits.
- Sheriff Ballis said he directed Flock to remove the camera as soon as possible, and that his office would render it unusable if that timeline is not met.
- Blaine County's Flock contract expires in March 2027; Ballis said the county has told Flock it will not auto-renew and will seek public and commissioner input first.
- The contract costs $60,000 per year and has been funded through civil forfeiture proceeds, which Ballis described as unsustainable.
- Carey had prepared an ordinance to strongly limit ALPR use; the article does not say whether it was ultimately adopted.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Blaine County sheriff to remove Flock camera from Carey, city says it was installed without their knowledge (KIVI-TV, September 23, 2026)
- Blaine County to remove ALPR camera near Carey, end contract with Flock Safety in 2027 (Yahoo, September 22, 2026)
- Blaine County Sheriff orders removal of Flock license plate reader camera from Carey city (KBOI, September 21, 2026)
- Blaine County to remove ALPR camera near Carey, end contract with Flock Safety in 2027 (Newsbreak, September 22, 2026)
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BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.
Updated September 24, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.