Documented Incident
Missouri Gov. Kehoe signs executive order setting limits on state-funded license plate readers
First reported: September 16, 2026 · 26 sources
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-18 on Wednesday, directing guidelines intended to prevent misuse of data gathered by automated license plate readers, including Flock cameras, while permitting continued law enforcement use of the technology. The order applies only to state-funded ALPRs, which a Missouri Department of Public Safety official said number about 400 of the more than 3,400 cameras reported in the state by the independent tracker Finding Flock. Kehoe said the order is a first step toward safeguards against data abuse, and Public Safety Director Mark James said his department would work with state and local agencies and the General Assembly to implement it.
The order highlights the limits of executive action on surveillance technology: most ALPRs in Missouri are locally funded and fall outside its scope, and lawmakers from both parties have said statutory rules would be needed for enforceable limits.
Key facts
- Executive Order 26-18 was signed Wednesday and covers state-funded ALPR systems only.
- A Missouri Department of Public Safety official said roughly 400 of the state's ALPRs are state-funded; Finding Flock has logged more than 3,400 ALPR cameras in Missouri.
- House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Republican, praised the order and called on the General Assembly to write permanent protections into state law.
- House Minority Leader Ashley Aune called the order a gesture without force of law and said Kehoe could have called a special session; Democrats say they will pursue legislation in January.
- A Flock Safety spokesperson said the company supports strong guardrails and called the order an important step.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Gov. Kehoe signs executive order to prevent misuse of Automated License Plate Readers (krcgtv.com, September 16, 2026)
- MO Gov. Kehoe signs executive order targeting misuse of Flock, ALPR cameras (Yahoo, September 16, 2026)
- Missouri Gov. Kehoe issues executive order restricting license plate reader data (K8 News | Jonesboro, Arkansas, September 16, 2026)
- Missouri Gov. Kehoe issues executive order restricting license plate reader data (KY3, September 16, 2026)
- Missouri Gov. Kehoe signs executive order targeting misuse of ALPRs, including Flock (FOX4KC.com, September 16, 2026)
- Missouri governor signs executive order to establish safeguards against license plate readers (KMBC, September 16, 2026)
- Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signs executive order to establish guidelines for automated license plate readers (KSHB 41 Kansas City, September 16, 2026)
- Gov. Kehoe signs executive order restricting Flock Safety data (komu.com, September 16, 2026)
- Gov. Kehoe executive order restricts license plate reader use (KMOV, September 16, 2026)
- Gov. Kehoe signs order to rule on Flock, license plate cameras in Missouri (KQ2, September 16, 2026)
- MO Gov. Kehoe signs executive order targeting misuse of Flock, ALPR cameras (FOX4KC.com, September 16, 2026)
- Gov. Mike Kehoe signes executive order targeting ALPR (spectrumlocalnews.com, September 16, 2026)
- Missouri leaders react to Gov. Kehoe's executive order restricting license plate reader cameras (ksdk.com, September 17, 2026)
- Missouri Gov. Kehoe issues executive order restricting license plate reader data (ky3.com, September 16, 2026)
- Kehoe executive order establishes safeguards for use of Flock cameras (The Turner Report, September 17, 2026)
- Governor Kehoe Signs Executive Order Establishing Safeguards on Automated License Plate Readers (Ozark Radio News, September 17, 2026)
- Missouri leaders react to Gov. Kehoe's executive order restricting license plate reader cameras (yahoo.com, September 17, 2026)
- Missouri governor signs order to limit use of Automated License Plate Reader data (khqa.com, September 16, 2026)
- Citing concerns over Flock cameras, Missouri governor signs executive order on ALPRs (StateScoop, September 16, 2026)
- Kehoe signs order setting limits on license plate reader use in Missouri (News-Press NOW, September 16, 2026)
- Missouri Governor signs automated license plate reader executive order (Newstalk Kzrg, September 16, 2026)
- Missouri governor signs order to limit use of Automated License Plate Reader data (KTVO, September 16, 2026)
- Missouri governor orders guardrails on Flock cameras and automated license plate readers (KCUR, September 16, 2026)
- Kehoe signs executive order to restrict use of license plate cameras (ABC17NEWS, September 16, 2026)
- Kehoe signs executive order to restrict use of license plate cameras (WPSD Local 6, September 17, 2026)
- Governor Kehoe signs Executive Order regarding Flock Cameras (KMZU.com, September 16, 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 27, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.