Documented Incident
NC State Bureau of Investigation seeks funding to extend statewide ALPR highway network through 2028
First reported: July 23, 2026 · 1 source
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has asked state lawmakers to continue funding a highway automatic license plate reader network through 2028, according to WCTI ABC News 12. SBI director Chip Hawley made the request in a report to the General Assembly, noting that 32 law enforcement agencies sought roughly 230 camera locations. Several eastern North Carolina agencies already run Flock Safety cameras, including Pitt County (30 cameras), Lenoir County (16), Greenville police (10 approved) and Craven County, which has had cameras at ABC stores since 2022.
The request would move a pilot on state rights-of-way toward a longer-term, statewide camera network, and privacy advocates quoted in the report say there has been little public deliberation over how the resulting data is stored and shared between agencies.
Key facts
- 32 agencies requested about 230 ALPR camera locations; SBI is seeking continued funding through 2028
- Lenoir County launched its 16-camera program in 2025 using federally seized funds; Sheriff Jackie Rogers said searches require a legitimate law enforcement purpose and are audited
- Greenville officials said the cameras capture plates and vehicle characteristics but do not record video or identify drivers
- Flock Safety told News 12 images are held 30 days by default unless preserved for an investigation; North Carolina law permits retention up to 90 days
- A camera at the Havelock ABC Store was cut down earlier this month in what officials called the county's first ALPR theft; the Craven County Sheriff's Office is investigating
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- License Plate Reader Network Expands Across North Carolina Amid Privacy Debate (kiss951.com, July 23, 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 August 11, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.