Mauldin resident launches citizen petition to ban mass surveillance and automated license plate readers

A Mauldin resident is turning to direct citizen democracy to challenge the use of automated surveillance technology in the city, launching a petition drive aimed at barring local government agencies from deploying mass surveillance tools such as Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras.

Organizer Jason Pleakis announced that signature collection will begin Thursday, October 29, outside Mauldin City Hall at 5 East Butler Road, running from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The petition seeks to enact the “City of Mauldin Protection from Mass Surveillance Citizen Ordinance.” Under the proposed measure, the city would be prohibited from operating or contracting with mass automated surveillance networks that track and log vehicular movements without a warrant.

The Push for Voter Action

According to Pleakis, the initiative follows multiple public appearances at Mauldin City Council meetings where he raised civil liberties and privacy concerns regarding automated tracking systems.

“Flock cameras collect data on your location and create a searchable database the police can search to see where you’ve driven in the last 30 days,” Pleakis stated in an announcement for the signature drive. “They do not need a warrant. I have spoken at the last three City Council meetings, and the council has refused to speak on the topic.”

Flock Safety cameras, which capture vehicle make, model, color, and license plate information, have been adopted widely by law enforcement agencies across the Upstate and nationally to identify stolen vehicles and track suspects in active investigations. However, the systems have drawn scrutiny from privacy advocates regarding historical location tracking, third-party data retention, and access protocols.

The Legal Mechanism: South Carolina Code § 5-17-10

Rather than relying on council members to sponsor the measure, the effort utilizes South Carolina’s statutory initiative and referendum process under S.C. Code Ann. § 5-17-10, which grants qualified municipal electors the power to propose local ordinances directly.

Under state law, organizers must satisfy strict legal requirements to advance the ordinance:

• Signature Threshold: The petition must gather certified signatures from registered voters residing within Mauldin city limits. Pleakis estimates a target of roughly 3,100 signatures to meet the statutory requirement.

• Council Consideration: Once the required number of verified signatures is submitted, the Mauldin City Council is legally required to hold a vote on whether to adopt the proposed ordinance as written.

• Potential Referendum: If council members reject the ordinance or make alterations not agreed to by the petitioners, state law mandates that the measure be placed on a ballot, allowing Mauldin voters to decide the issue directly in an election.

Signature Drive Details

To qualify as a valid petition signer, individuals must meet two legal criteria: they must be registered to vote in South Carolina and maintain their primary residence inside the municipal city limits of Mauldin.

• Date: Thursday, October 29

• Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Location: Public sidewalk outside Mauldin City Hall, 5 East Butler Road, Mauldin, SC 29662

• Organizer Contact: Jason Pleakis | (864) 593-5930

Organizers plan to conduct additional collection sessions in the coming weeks across Mauldin commercial districts to meet the required signature threshold.