A Jacksonville Beach man was arrested for allegedly vandalizing several Automated License Plate Readers, commonly referred to as Flock cameras for the company that produces many of them.
After an investigation revealed that several of the cameras were vandalized across Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Jacksonville Beach, the investigators used operational Flock cameras to track down the suspect, 19-year-old River Blair.
According to investigators, camera footage shows Blair parking a red Mazda hatchback and carrying a ladder towards a camera.
Blair’s alleged method was to spray paint camera lenses either silver or gold, to prevent them from recording traffic.
Blair, a Tallahassee State College student, also told police he had painted a camera in Bulloch County, Georgia, which contains Georgia Southern University.
In total, Blair is accused of damaging eight cameras across the two states, although he currently has not been charged in Georgia.
However, Blair was pulled over in Bulloch county earlier this month while driving the Mazda connected to the Atlantic Beach vandalism.
A Flock camera. (Wikimedia Commons)
Flock cameras capture data like license plates, make, model color and other notable vehicle features.
Over 5,000 cameras exist across the country, and they combine into a searchable database for law enforcement.
The technology has attracted scrutiny online, with many fearing warrantless surveillance and errors in the cameras’ artificial intelligence.
Supporters say Flock cameras help police identify suspect vehicles, solve crimes and locate missing people.
They also argue the cameras deter crime and are less intrusive than facial-recognition technology.
Flock has stated a commitment to civil liberties and data protection.
According to FlockHopper, an application that tracks the cameras’ locations, there are roughly 200 in St. Johns County, with many concentrated on major roadways or near county lines.
Across Northeast Florida, nearly 700 of the cameras exist.
According to a report, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office states the cameras are not used arbitrarily, but are used as an investigative tool.