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From South Carolina Counties Restrict Flock Safety Surveillance Cameras

How could local county restrictions on Flock Safety cameras affect the general assembly?

Likely What happens if… A possibility worth considering, not a forecast.

Local county restrictions may force the general assembly to define ALPR regulatory authority The actions taken by counties like Oconee, Anderson, and Spartanburg to restrict or ban Flock Safety's automatic license plate readers are creating immediate political pressure on the general assembly. This pressure is amplified by the Attorney General’s office, which issued an opinion stating that the authority to regulate these systems lies with the State Legislature, not local government. Local officials are using these ordinances as a means to force the general assembly's hand, with some stating that the power to act resides with the legislature. Any new law addressing these cameras will have to wait for the legislative session scheduled for January.

Reported by 1 independent outlet Written Thursday
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How it reaches general assembly

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The facts so far

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  • Oconee County was the first in the state to ban the cameras, followed by Anderson County and Spartanburg County.postandcourier.com
  • Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office warned that the authority to regulate ALPRs lies with the State Legislature, not local government.postandcourier.com
  • Oconee County’s ordinance targeted all mass surveillance technology and threatened to reduce funding for cities using ALPRs.postandcourier.com
  • Any law addressing the cameras will have to wait for the legislative session in January.postandcourier.com

Why it matters

The stakes are high regarding the balance between public safety and citizen privacy. Critics argue that ALPRs, which can track drivers’ movements by linking thousands of images, raise serious privacy concerns, especially after officers were found using the technology for personal reasons. Local governments are attempting to fill a regulatory void, but the Attorney General has made it clear that the ultimate power to regulate rests with the general assembly.

This situation highlights a growing national backlash against mass surveillance technology. While local governments are taking action, the state's legal framework is currently unclear, leading to a 'piecemeal' approach. This lack of statewide consistency means that the general assembly faces immediate pressure to establish uniform guardrails across South Carolina.

What we don't know yet

  • Will the general assembly pass legislation before the January session begins?
  • Will the Attorney General’s office issue further guidance on the scope of local government authority?

What would change this answer

The general assembly introduces a bill to regulate ALPRsThe pressure on the legislature will be relieved, and the focus will shift to the specifics of the new law.
The Attorney General’s office issues a stronger advisory opinionIt could further solidify the legislature's mandate, potentially accelerating the need for action.

Who else could feel it

Other possible ripples from the same event.

Reporting

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The full eventSouth Carolina Counties Restrict Flock Safety Surveillance Cameras Everything aboutgeneral assembly

Brind's analysis is written by AI from the reporting linked above and can be wrong. This explainer is a possibility worth considering, not a forecast: steps marked as Brind's reasoning are not stated in the reporting. It is not investment advice; do your own research.