Skamania County, WA – A recent court ruling has forced the shutdown of all six Flock license plate reader cameras in Skamania County today, prompting new concerns about investigative delays and public safety impacts across southwest Washington.
According to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, the decision centers on access to Flock-generated footage and how public records laws apply to stored vehicle data. The ruling significantly expands who may request camera footage and how broadly that information must be released. Sheriff’s officials say the changes extend far beyond the department’s own internal policy parameters and create new privacy and safety concerns for residents and law enforcement personnel.
The Sheriff’s Office stated that while Flock cameras have played a key role in identifying suspects, tracking stolen vehicles, and supporting regional investigations, the system will now be fully disabled. The cameras will remain physically installed, but both the recording capability and license plate reader technology will be turned off until further notice.
The county’s contract with Flock Safety runs through December 2026, meaning the infrastructure will stay in place even though the technology is inactive. Officials noted that the ruling could also impact surrounding counties that rely on data-sharing networks to track criminal activity across jurisdictional lines.
Local residents in Skamania County, Clark County, and the greater Portland metro area may notice longer investigative timelines, particularly in vehicle-related crimes, missing person searches, and regional alerts.
The Sheriff’s Office called the ruling “a threat to public safety” and said it remains unclear whether any legislative or appellate action might restore the technology in the coming months.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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