Westchester Village Cuts Ties With License Plate Reader Company Over Privacy Fears

Community Action Leads to Cancellation of Surveillance Technology Contract

A village in Westchester has officially ended its agreement with a company that provides automated license plate reader technology, following the inability to secure necessary funding and growing community concerns. This decision marks a significant shift in the local approach to public safety and privacy.

Mayor Justin Arest made the announcement during a community update on Wednesday, August 6. The cancellation ends plans for a public safety system that would have included automated license plate readers, live-view surveillance cameras, and drone technology designed to assist first responders. According to Arest, the village was informed in early July that its grant application for the project had been denied. Then, on Monday, August 4, Police Chief DelBene submitted a memo advising against proceeding with the technology due to the lack of federal funding.

As of Wednesday morning, the Village formally terminated its contract with Flock Safety. No funds had been allocated, and no surveillance technology had been implemented. Arest emphasized that the Police Department remains committed to exploring technologies that enhance public safety, while also ensuring that privacy concerns are a top priority in any future initiatives.

This decision comes after months of local activism. In April, a petition signed by 449 residents urged the Village Board to pause the project, hold public forums, and develop clear policies governing the use of surveillance technology. The petition criticized what organizers described as a lack of transparency and warned of potential risks to civil liberties.

Mayra Kirkendall-Rodriguez, one of the petition organizers, highlighted the importance of involving residents in decisions about surveillance technology. “Matters as important as surveillance technology should always be placed on municipal agendas and publicized so that residents have an opportunity to provide their views,” she said in an interview with the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit organization focused on civil liberties.

The Institute for Justice praised the village’s decision to abandon the project. The group had previously received concerns from Scarsdale residents about privacy and government overreach. Opponents of the Flock system raised fears about mass data collection and tracking. Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras capture images of every passing vehicle and store identifying data in searchable databases accessible to law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions.

Critics pointed out the risk of abuse and the lack of warrant protections, as well as reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accessing ALPR data in Westchester County, according to a report from The Guardian.

Scarsdale resident Josh Frankel expressed his approval of the village’s decision. “The village made the right call in canceling the Flock contract and I respect that,” he said. “Should this issue arise again, I’d hope the board will seek public input beforehand.”

Tom Solomon, a Special Projects Coordinator at the Institute for Justice, added, “Residents of Scarsdale made it clear they did not want to be subjected to unconstitutional, warrantless, and frankly unnecessary surveillance.” He expressed satisfaction that the community would now be free from such surveillance.

Mayor Arest stated that the village takes community input seriously, especially regarding technology that may raise concerns. “Protecting privacy is a central part of every agreement we enter into, and we will continue to prioritize privacy safeguards in all public safety initiatives,” he said.

Currently, there are no scheduled meetings on the topic, but Arest pledged to inform the public if further discussions occur. The decision reflects a growing awareness of the balance between public safety and individual privacy, driven by active community engagement and advocacy.