Following a decision yesterday by a Snohomish County Court Judge that data from automatic license plate readers are in fact open to public records requests, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin today announced that she has ordered the temporary suspension of 71 Flock Automated License Plate Readers within the city limits of Everett, Washington. She told Seen In Everett, “This makes them unusable for public safety as there is no way we can keep up with the volume of public records requests following the judge’s ruling which we will appeal.” A few months ago the Everett City Council approved taking the issue to Superior Court of whether the footage is exempt from public record requests or shouldn’t even be considered a public record. “I’m extremely disappointed,” Mayor Franklin said. “Since its inception this system has aided in homicide arrests, stolen vehicle recoveries, locating domestic violence suspects and finding missing people.”
Franklin is not terminating the contract with Flock but temporarily pausing the use of the License Plate Readers until the appeal is heard or the State Legislature passes a law exempting the footage from public disclosure rules. A bill containing such language (SB6002) is making its way thru the current session in Olympia.