Documented Incident
South Lyon, Michigan council votes 5-2 to deactivate city's two Flock cameras
Event: September 28, 2026 · First reported: September 29, 2026 · 13 sources
The South Lyon City Council voted 5-2 on a Monday night to immediately deactivate the city's two Flock automated license plate reader cameras, according to a CBS News Detroit report dated September 29, 2026. Police Chief Bonnie Unruh said the cameras are no longer collecting data and have been physically covered, and that the city will not renew its contract. Councilmember Alex Hansen said in a social media post that the police department covered the cameras less than four hours after the vote.
The decision shows a local governing body ending an ALPR program outright rather than adding restrictions, with the police chief framing public trust as the deciding factor — a rationale other councils weighing renewals may encounter.
Key facts
- City council voted 5-2 to immediately turn off the cameras; the city will not renew the Flock contract.
- South Lyon had two Flock cameras, which Chief Bonnie Unruh said are no longer collecting data and have been covered.
- Unruh said she supports the decision, citing public trust, and hopes the city might revisit the technology if stronger guardrails are adopted.
- Residents interviewed by CBS News Detroit were divided; opponents argued the collected data is unregulated, while supporters said it aids investigations and missing-person cases.
Timeline
- September 29, 2026South Lyon City Council votes to deactivate Flock cameras
- September 30, 2026South Lyon ends Flock Safety contract, orders cameras covered
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- South Lyon City Council votes to deactivate Flock cameras (CBS News, September 29, 2026)
- South Lyon ends Flock Safety contract, orders cameras covered (ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4, September 30, 2026)
- South Lyon moves to not renew Flock contract, covers cameras (The Detroit News, September 29, 2026)
- South Lyon City Council votes to cover cameras, end contract with Flock (Herald Palladium, September 30, 2026)
- South Lyon Discontinues Use of Flock License Plate Readers (whmi.com, September 29, 2026)
- South Lyon City Council votes to cover cameras, end contract with Flock (Michigan Advance, September 30, 2026)
- South Lyon moves to not renew Flock contract, covers cameras (Belleville News-Democrat, September 29, 2026)
- South Lyon ends Flock Safety contract, orders cameras covered (ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4, September 30, 2026)
- South Lyon ends Flock Safety contract, orders cameras covered (Clickondetroit, September 30, 2026)
- South Lyon moves to not renew Flock contract, covers cameras (AOL.com, September 29, 2026)
- South Lyon City Council votes to cover cameras, end contract with Flock (yahoo.com, September 30, 2026)
- Newburgh City Council votes to end Flock contract (WAMC, September 29, 2026)
- Newburgh City Council votes to end Flock contract (WAMC, September 29, 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 October 5, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.