31 Cameras Watch Every Boulder Driver — Two Residents Sue to Shut Down Flock Surveillance System

Two Boulder residents have filed a lawsuit against the city’s police chief and a records specialist, demanding an end to the city’s Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) network. The plaintiffs, William Freeman and Gwen Steel, argue that Boulder’s 31 Flock cameras violate Colorado’s privacy laws by tracking drivers’ movements without probable cause or judicial oversight. The lawsuit, filed in Boulder County District Court, accuses Police Chief Stephen Redfearn of operating a warrantless mass surveillance system that logs license plates and stores geolocation data in a searchable database accessible to law enforcement. Freeman claims he was denied access to records about his own vehicle under Colorado’s public records law. The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages and a court order barring Boulder from using the cameras without a warrant. Civil rights attorney Andy McNulty, representing the plaintiffs, contends that Colorado’s constitution offers stronger privacy protections than those recognized in other states, and argues that no court has established probable cause to justify 24/7 monitoring of every vehicle on Boulder’s roads. Boulder police have defended the system in the past, citing crime reduction and vehicle recovery benefits, and have stated that data is not shared with federal immigration authorities. Flock Safety, the company behind the cameras, disputes the lawsuit, pointing to repeated court rulings across the U.S. upholding the legality of fixed ALPR systems. The company also notes that agencies control their own data policies regarding access, retention, and sharing. The case has been assigned to Judge Michael Kotlarczyk. Boulder officials say they are reviewing the allegations and will respond through the court process.