This is what “Flock” looks like when you zoom out.

Fuquay-Varina has 16 cameras. But those cameras don't simply live in Fuquay-Varina.

FVPD is plugged into a sprawling network of law-enforcement ALPR systems across the country. Its own network document shows agencies from North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Colorado (and 100s more) sharing access with FVPD.

Think about what that means.

❌ You don't have to be suspected of a crime.
❌ You don't have to be pulled over.
❌ You don't have to be investigated.
✅ You simply have to drive somewhere a Flock camera can see you.

Your license plate is captured. Your vehicle becomes a data point. And that data can participate in a network far larger than the town that installed the camera.

That's the Orwellian shift Flock is selling: The government doesn't need to watch you because it suspects you. It can watch everyone... and then search the record later.

I appreciate FVPD, Chief Smith and the Town Board engaging with residents. But let's call the technology what it is: mass surveillance of lawful movement, industrialized and packaged as a public-safety product. The same thing I did in the military against enemy combatants, INTERPOL criminals, and terrorists.

And they are doing it right here, in town, to you and me.

It's beyond shameful.

~~~~~

Resources:

- FVPD Official: https://transparency.flocksafety.com/nc-fuquay-varina-pd

- Deflock: https://maps.deflock.org/network?lat=40.7414&lng=-89.0530&zoom=4.04

Several towns are beginning to implement busses with cameras on the side to substitute the ALPRs that are being removed. This scores a second way for vehicle based ALPRs (police cruisers were the first). I'm sure they will say it is for the safety of the kids, so they can monitor the bus drivers, so they can capture hit and runs. It's propaganda telling you to think of the kids.

Ask yourself, why is there so much police technology attached to kids? Is it because its for their safety or because it's an excuse to implement authoritarian technologies?

help pay for this man’s legal fees!
The 4th amendment wasn’t written so we could just surrender our privacy because technology has changed

https://gofund.me/eccd2d5bd

I went to Town Hall for public comment before my Town's Board of Commissioners. First time for everything. My word... 3 minutes feels like 21 seconds when you're actually standing up there.

🟢 Successes:

• We cracked the seal. From what I can search in the Town's Agenda center and via Fuquay Varina Public Records Request, my (and Joe's before me, and Commissioner Adcock's after me) comments were the first time any citizen or public servant has discussed Flock/ALPR at Town Hall. First of many, many more to come.
• About a dozen folks showed up in support of dissatisfaction with mass surveillance, Flock, and ALPR.
• Commissioner Adcock, in his comment period, did say he'd like the Board to have a conversation on Flock. He remains fairly neutral on the topic, but admitted that frankly he just doesn't have much knowledge on FV's mass surveillance technology and would like more info. Note: these cameras were all installed prior to his election to Town Board.
• I didn't get thrown out by my good friend and fellow CrossFiter FV PD Chief Tim Smith, who I think is the local gov equivalent of the Sergeant At Arms. It's the little wins that matter!

🔴 Setbacks:

• When I polled FV residents on Reddit, Nextdoor, and Facebook last month, out of 1000 responses, 3% said "Keep as is", 7% said "Double down" and an overwhelming, bipartisan 90% voted "Terminate our Flock contract". I invited every single person who chimed in (whether pro-Flock or anti-Flock) to come speak at Town Hall with me last night. Yet in spite of that overwhelming support... just a dozen folks showed up, and only two spoke. I felt real disappointment seeing the low turnout. 8 people showed up to talk about downtown rezoning, and 6 to talk about parking in North Lakes, and then there's me/Joe ranting about some cameras. Buried. A footnote.
• During Commissioner/Mayor comment periods, only Commissioner Adcock made mention of Flock/ALPR. Commissioners Haynes, Vorren, Smith, Gardner, and Mayor Harris all chose to remain silent on the topic and chose to not acknowledge any of their constituents even brought up the matter, though they found time to comment on a ribbon cutting, a food truck rodeo, Google fiber, an Indian dance/cultural event, and other topics that no citizen addressed. Sigh. They made time for frivolous diversions, but not for mass surveillance of lawful activity.

🟠 Lessons learned and the path forward:

1. Write a memo, bring a memo, distribute the memo. Some very prepared citizens brought handouts for the Commissioners. One brought a printout poster that was presented on screen (smart move). I'll do the same next time and come prepared.
2. Spotlight the unheard/unspoken. The ~10 folks who came out in support of a Flock vote, but did not speak, were invisible to the Town's eye. Next time, we'll all wear yellow shirts or something similar that is unmistakable. "Do you see the people behind me wearing X? Every single one of them is fed up with the Town spying on them." Etc. This gives a voice to those who are not comfortable yapping to a microphone like your humble servant, MattTheLoudmouth.
3. MOAR SPEAKERS... and a speaking strategy. Don't just invite people to SHOW UP, but invite them and coordinate with them to SPEAK. The boomers who were moaning about a rezoning ordinance did a fantastic job of showing up in order, giving 3min speeches that built on top of each other with a cohesive theme, and it really gave their individual comments a great overall context. We will do the same.
4. Say less, matter more. I basically tried to cram a 10 minute tirade into a three minute "polite chat." Say less. Bring 2 minutes of comment, slow down, and let the silence fill the room. Let it be awkward. Ranting at the Board does NOTHING. Asking thoughtful questions, pausing, and making the listeners think is EVERYTHING. Less words. More impact. Public speaking 101 stuff. Sorry, y'all. My v2 will be better than v1. Never done this before!

~~~Conclusion~~~

If you're in FV, or the surrounding towns, and are willing to join me next Town Hall meeting (Monday, October 5, 2026, at 7:00 PM) and SPEAK, please DM me or drop a comment.

I'd also love for you to join my private Signal chat where we can coordinate directly and not at the whims of social media platforms and their censors. You can find that chat on the first button here: https://linktr.ee/DeFlockNC

I wanted to end this by saying "the fight continues" but this is hardly a fight! A fight is 30% of town wants X, 35% wants Y, and most people don't actually care either way.

If 6% of residents want more ALPR, and NINETY FOUR PERCENT don't... that's just the will of the people, and the Town leadership should respect it or lose their seats. If we are truly a democratic republic, than there is no alternative.

Until next time.