Roadside safety advocates have raised concerns that automated license plate readers from Flock Safety may not meet highway safety standards, potentially posing crash risks. The cameras, which are often installed on standalone poles, have been found lacking breakaway plates and positioned dangerously close to travel lanes, according to inspectors.
Safety Concerns Over Flock Camera Installations
At the bottom of a tree-lined hill on a narrow, two-lane rural road in Greene County, Ohio, a black metal rod with a camera and solar panel stands. The camera, an automated license plate reader (ALPR) owned by Flock Safety, is painted black and lacks a breakaway plate—a safety feature that allows a pole to snap upon impact, reducing harm to vehicle occupants. It is placed about two feet from the edge of the asphalt road, violating Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) guidelines that require license plate readers to be at least eight feet from the nearest edge of a travel lane on uncurbed facilities.
The Beavercreek Police Department, Flock’s customer in this case, stated that Flock is responsible for all installations and that all cameras in its jurisdiction “received the appropriate approval.” Flock has an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 cameras deployed in more than 6,000 communities across the US, though the company declined to share the exact number or location of its devices.
Advocate's Findings
Steve Eimers, known online as the Guardrail Guy, has documented these hazards extensively. His daughter died a decade ago after the vehicle she was in crashed into a roadside structure on Interstate 75. Since then, Eimers has toured the country highlighting failures to meet safety requirements. “There are a billion different people looking into the top part of the cameras [but] nobody’s been looking at the bottom, and the crashworthy elements,” he said.
In 2024, crashes between a motor vehicle and a fixed barrier accounted for 26% of vehicle deaths nationwide, according to the National Safety Council. The Federal Highway Administration requires that all roadside sign supports in the clear zone be breakaway, yielding, or shielded by a barrier or crash cushion. Eimers noted that he has only ever found one Flock pole, in Erie County, Ohio, installed with the required breakaway plate, but it was positioned higher off the ground than permitted, potentially catching low-lying vehicles and igniting fires.
Regulatory Compliance and Requirements
David Rose of ODOT said, “Permits are required when working within ODOT’s right-of-way, including the installation of license plate reader cameras,” but noted that state authorities are not involved in ALPR installations, even when located on state right-of-way. “All work performed within corporation limits must be approved through the appropriate city or village, as ODOT does not have jurisdiction within corporation limits.”
Flock and police departments defend the cameras as effective crime reduction tools. The company stated it follows all state and local requirements. Paris Lewbel, a Flock Safety spokesperson, said, “We do not agree with the premise that Flock regularly installs poles in violation of federal, state, or local safety requirements. The appropriate pole type and installation specifications depend on the roadway, speed, location, jurisdiction, and requirements of the relevant transportation or permitting authority.” He added that the company planned to undergo a review of camera pole installations across its network.
Broader Industry Concerns
Flock is not alone. ALPR companies such as Motorola Solutions and Redflex Traffic Systems also routinely fail to meet roadside structure requirements, including using other structures to mount devices in violation of state regulations. In urban areas, cameras are often attached to traffic lights, reducing crash risk, but in suburban and rural areas, they are erected as standalone structures, increasing hazards.
Eimers warned that without breakaway features, the metal poles can act like spears. “Without that, what can happen is that metal pipe can act like a spear; that’s hollow pipe, it’ll core out your brain,” said Eimers, a registered nurse. “We know that a lot of people leave the road, so we want a forgiving roadside.”
The city of Toledo approved a three-year $846,000 contract with Flock Group Inc in November 2025, $282,000 annually.
