Ferguson Township Supervisors Weigh Ban, Lawsuit or Resolution on ALPR Cameras

First reported: September 17, 2026 · 2 sources

Ferguson Township's Board of Supervisors discussed options for restricting or banning automated license plate readers in the Centre County, Pennsylvania municipality, though the board's legal authority to do so remained unclear. Supervisor Trevor White, who requested the discussion, said he believes the cameras violate the Fourth Amendment and proposed an outright ban or litigation against entities that install them; Township Manager Warren Obenski said preliminary research suggests the township cannot bar ALPRs on private property. No Flock cameras are currently installed in the township, but White cited concern that Penn State could extend its camera deployment to university properties within Ferguson Township. Supervisors voted to draft a resolution stating the board's position and to return with additional options at a future meeting.

Why this matters

The discussion illustrates the limits municipalities may face when trying to regulate surveillance technology deployed by private entities or state-affiliated institutions rather than by the local government itself. How Ferguson Township resolves those jurisdictional questions could inform other communities weighing similar restrictions.

Key facts

Penn State began a Flock Safety pilot program in August 2025, installing roughly two dozen cameras around the core University Park campus.
No Flock cameras have been installed in Ferguson Township; the concern raised was potential expansion to Penn State properties such as the Science Park Road corridor.
Supervisors voted only to draft a resolution and explore further options; no ban or lawsuit has been enacted or filed.
Flock recently reduced its default data retention period from 30 days to seven days, according to the article.
All 10 public commenters at the meeting opposed the cameras; Supervisor Matt Heller said some constituents have told him they are untroubled by them.

Sources

This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.

Ferguson Township Supervisors Mull Options to Restrict Flock Cameras (statecollege.com, September 17, 2026)
Ferguson Township Supervisors Mull Options to Restrict Flock Cameras (Newsbreak, September 17, 2026)

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About this record

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 17, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.