Simpsonville committee advances proposed ban on Flock license plate cameras

City leaders took the first formal step Tuesday toward a potential ban on automated license plate readers within Simpsonville city limits, advancing a proposal that could make the municipality one of the first in South Carolina to prohibit stationary camera surveillance networks.

During a committee meeting Tuesday evening, city officials forwarded the proposed measure for review, opening the door for full City Council consideration.

Under the draft text of the proposal, Simpsonville would move to terminate active service agreements with private automated license plate reader (ALPR) vendors—most notably Flock Safety—and mandate the decommissioning and physical removal of stationary camera systems installed along municipal rights-of-way.

The committee’s action reflects a broader regional discussion across the Upstate concerning the balance between law enforcement technology and citizen privacy. Proponents of ALPR systems point to their utility in quickly tracking stolen vehicles, locating missing individuals, and aiding criminal investigations. Critics and civil liberties advocates, however, have voiced concerns over continuous warrantless vehicular tracking, data security, and long-term storage practices.

Tensions surrounding surveillance technology have surfaced repeatedly in Upstate council chambers in recent months. Neighboring Anderson and Oconee counties have both taken preliminary legislative votes to restrict or defund Flock systems, while grassroots organizers in adjacent communities such as Mauldin have launched petition drives to propose citizen-led surveillance bans.

The proposal now heads to the full Simpsonville City Council for further deliberation, where it will require standard readings and public input before any final ban could take effect.