AGENDA REPORT
DATE: November 10, 2025
TO: City Commission
FROM: Bill McDaniel, City Manager
SUBJECT: Flock Safety, Continued Implementation
of License Plate Readers
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Police Department is committed to enhancing its ability to solve crimes. Since implementing the Flock Safety License Plate Readers (LPR), numerous investigations have been successfully solved, and violators have been arrested. The continued use of Flock LPRs provides investigators with a valuable tool for their work.
Flock LPRs are high-speed, computer-controlled camera systems mounted near roadways. These systems automatically capture all license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, and the location, date, and time of each observation.
The Flock Safety LPR system significantly improves the efficiency of police investigations involving motor vehicles. LPR systems continuously and automatically scan license plates, using optical character recognition software to convert the scans into text. They then compare this information against various "hotlists" stored in the system, which include data on stolen vehicles, kidnappings, robberies, missing persons, and violent felonies.
In addition to LPRs, Flock Safety employs Vehicle Fingerprint™ technology, which captures additional vehicle details, including make, color, type, license plate state, cars with missing or covered plates, paper plates, and over twenty (20) unique characteristics such as roof racks and bumper stickers. Flock Safety has established a range of administrative, operational, technical, and physical safeguards to protect LPR information from unauthorized access, use, destruction, modification, or disclosure.
The Police Department has identified twenty-two (22) additional strategic locations for placing Flock Safety LPRs. Of the twenty-two (22) locations, eight (8) LPRs will be in the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). These new sites will expand the investigative radius around the city, enabling more effective identification of criminal conspirators. With this addition, the Police Department would monitor a total of forty-two (42) LPRs.
Flock will install standing poles with LPRs mounted at the top, powered by solar panels. Flock Safety will complete the installation and coordinate with the City of Plant City to ensure compliance with permits and city ordinances.
The Police Department’s consistent goal is to fulfill its responsibilities to the community by providing the most effective and efficient professional law enforcement resources available.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Commission authorize the City Manager to execute a purchase order with Flock Safety for $88,100.00 for the installation of twenty-two (22) Flock Safety LPR's for the Police Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Total cost for the 22 additional Flock Safety LPRs - $88,100.00
- Implementation - $18,100.00
- Re-occurring annual subscription cost - $70,000.00
Funds are available in Computer and Software Services as follows:
CRA Fund for 6 locations - Org # 37053002, Obj # 434100 - $30,000
General Fund for 16 locations - Org # 00153003, Obj # 434100 - $80,000
Total re-occuring annual subscription cost for all Flock Safety LPRs - $130,000.00. The $60,000 cost for the LPRs purchased last year have been included in the budget:
CRA - $15,000 and General - $45,000.
Prepared by: Captain Robert McLellan