Who is reading your plate?
County by county.

Using license-plate readers

In use; some cameras may have been switched off or removed.

Removing or limiting cameras

Removing cameras beyond state roads, or limiting use, while some remain.

Use suspended

Cameras switched off or use paused; no contract termination reported.

Program documented, current use unconfirmed

Records or reports show the agency bought or used plate readers, but no source found confirms whether they are still in use.

Ended or removed

Contract terminated, program discontinued, or all cameras removed.

Statewide

1. 2015 Session Law 2015-190 added Article 3D to Chapter 20 of the General Statutes (G.S. 20-183.30 to 20-183.32), the state's rules for police use of automatic license plate readers. Later amendments came in 2021 and 2023. (North Carolina General Assembly, date not shown; North Carolina General Assembly, date not shown; North Carolina General Assembly, date not shown)
2. 2015 Under G.S. 20-183.31, a state or local law enforcement agency must adopt a written plate-reader policy before its system goes live. The policy must cover the databases used, retention, sharing with other agencies, operator training, supervision, data security and access, audits at least once a year reported to the agency head, and use of systems the agency doesn't run. Data may be used only for law enforcement purposes and not to enforce traffic violations. (North Carolina General Assembly, date not shown)
3. 2015 Under G.S. 20-183.32, captured plate data may be kept no longer than 90 days unless a sworn written preservation request or a state or federal search warrant applies; preserved data must be destroyed after one year unless the request is renewed. The data is confidential, not a public record, may be shared only with criminal justice officials for a legitimate law enforcement purpose on written request, and may not be sold. Hot lists must be updated every 24 hours or as soon as practicable. (North Carolina General Assembly, date not shown)
4. 2023 Session Law 2023-151, Section 5, set up a pilot program letting NCDOT make agreements with the State Bureau of Investigation to place fixed plate readers on state-owned right-of-way. It also repealed G.S. 20-183.32A effective Jan. 1, 2024. Session Law 2024-43, Section 3, amended the pilot, which was set to expire July 1, 2026. (North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (filed with the N.C. General Assembly), April 7, 2026; North Carolina General Assembly, date not shown)
5. July 2024 Flock Safety obtained the state license it needed in July 2024; the license runs through July 31, 2026, The News & Observer reported, citing the Department of Public Safety. (The News & Observer (republished by AOL; original URL not found), Aug. 12, 2024)
6. Jan. 2025 The N.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the N.C. Sheriffs' Association helped the SBI pick the first pilot agencies. Each agency signed a memorandum of understanding with the SBI and could choose its own vendor; cameras on state right-of-way need an NCDOT encroachment approval first. (North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (filed with the N.C. General Assembly), April 7, 2026)
7. June 16, 2025 NCDOT approved the first encroachment agreements for plate readers in state right-of-way under the pilot. The first cameras went up July 20, 2025, installed by the Raleigh Police Department. (North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (filed with the N.C. General Assembly), April 7, 2026)
8. April 7, 2026 The SBI's initial report to legislative oversight committees said 32 agencies (12 police departments, 19 sheriff's offices and the State Highway Patrol) had asked for 250 cameras on state right-of-way. As of March 15, 2026, 17 agencies had installed 140 camera locations, with 75 more pending, and no data had been kept longer than 90 days. The SBI asked for an extension to July 1, 2028, a statewide coordinator position, $225,000 a year for access to vendors' data (pilot agencies used four vendors) and grants for cameras at state entry points. (North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (filed with the N.C. General Assembly), April 7, 2026)
9. July 7, 2026 The state budget, S.L. 2026-41 (Senate Bill 257), was signed. It made the SBI-NCDOT right-of-way plate-reader program permanent and requires the SBI to report on it each year to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety. Similar language had been in House Bill 206 but was removed before that bill passed. The ACLU of North Carolina opposed the provision. (UNC School of Government, North Carolina Criminal Law blog, July 27, 2026; The News & Observer (via GovTech / Tribune Content Agency), July 16, 2026)
10. July 2026 An NCDOT spokesperson said the department does not install or run the cameras but can inspect them to confirm they sit in approved spots in the right-of-way. (The News & Observer (via GovTech / Tribune Content Agency), July 16, 2026)

State agencies

Every county

How this map is built

Sources

• Flock Safety / Craven County ABC Board, “Craven County ABC Board (NC) transparency portal,” Oct. 27, 2026
• WBTV, David Hodges, “UNC Charlotte limits Flock camera access after WBTV investigation,” Oct. 20, 2026
• WBTV, David Hodges, “UNC Charlotte limits Flock camera access after WBTV investigation,” Oct. 20, 2026
• Public Radio East, Annette Weston, “Roadside surveillance cameras are coming down in Onslow County,” Oct. 20, 2026
• WITN, WITN Web Team, “Onslow County Sheriff's Office to replace stationary ALPRs with cameras inside patrol cars,” Oct. 20, 2026
• WECT, Connor Smith, “WECT INVESTIGATES: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office overhauls Flock policy,” Oct. 19, 2026
• Port City Daily, Sophia DePhillips, “Pender town becomes first in the state to ban ALPR surveillance cameras,” Oct. 5, 2026
• WBTV, Dalfred Jones, “Residents push back on license plate readers as Charlotte-Mecklenburg police seeks vendor contract,” Sept. 29, 2026
• Port City Daily, Sophia DePhillips, “Brunswick County paying for 8 Flock cameras but have 15 in use — new purchases paused,” Sept. 24, 2026
• WECT, Connor Smith, “WECT INVESTIGATES: The status of New Hanover County's Flock contract, cameras,” Sept. 21, 2026
• WBTV, Michael Warrick, “Hickory Police latest to activate Flock Transparency Portal, amid camera scrutiny,” Sept. 18, 2026
• The State Port Pilot, Tom Woperner, “Commissioner, sheriff square off over Flock camera use,” Sept. 16, 2026
• WECT, Connor Smith, “WECT INVESTIGATES INSIDER: Flock votes, debates, investigations,” Sept. 16, 2026
• 88.5 WFDD, Reyna Drake, “Reidsville Police Department stops use of Flock Safety cameras,” Sept. 14, 2026
• WSOC-TV, Dave Faherty, “Amid national debate, Catawba pulls Flock cameras because of price tag,” Sept. 11, 2026
• City of Raleigh, “How Does Raleigh Use Flock Cameras?,” Sept. 10, 2026
• WSOC-TV, WSOCTV.com News Staff, “City of Charlotte seeks new license plate reader system,” Sept. 10, 2026
• WBTV, Dalfred Jones, “Town of Catawba ends Flock Safety trial: What we know,” Sept. 8, 2026
• WCCB Charlotte, Morgan Fogarty, “Protesters gather outside Monroe City Hall, demand city end its contract with Flock Safety,” Sept. 8, 2026
• WSOC-TV, Andrew McMillan, “NC town rejects Flock cameras after 60-day trial,” Sept. 8, 2026
• WSOC-TV, Hannah Goetz, “Monroe protestors demand city remove all Flock cameras, automated license plate readers,” Sept. 8, 2026
• WECT, Kaitlyn Aguiles and Connor Smith, “New Hanover County pulls plug on Flock camera contract,” Sept. 8, 2026
• WWAY, WWAY News, “New Hanover County Sheriff's Office begins ending access to Flock camera system,” Sept. 8, 2026
• The Pilot, Ana Risano, “Flock Camera Opponents Remain Steadfast,” Sept. 4, 2026
• WLOS, Marc Liverman, “Hendersonville police chief defends Flock cameras amid surveillance, AI concerns,” Sept. 3, 2026
• Public Radio East, Annette Weston, “Dare County to remove all automated license plate recognition cameras from unincorporated areas,” Sept. 3, 2026
• Island Free Press, Joy Crist, “Dare commissioners unanimously vote to remove Sheriff's Office Flock cameras,” Sept. 1, 2026
• Axios Raleigh, Zachery Eanes and Mary Helen Moore, “How Triangle cities differ on license plate reader cameras,” Aug. 31, 2026
• Goldsboro News-Argus, Aynaelyssya Thomas-Frunk, “Eye in the sky: Wayne County deputies monitor 15 Flock cameras,” Aug. 31, 2026
• Carolina Public Press (republished by States Newsroom), Walker Livingston, “Flock backlash growing in some Western NC communities,” Aug. 27, 2026
• Carolina Public Press (via NC Newsline / News From The States), Walker Livingston, “Flock backlash growing in some Western NC communities,” Aug. 27, 2026
• WLOS, Shelly Garzon, “Asheville police lose Flock camera access after city council votes to end contract,” Aug. 26, 2026
• FOX Carolina, Tyler Scott, “Asheville city council votes to terminate contract with Flock Safety,” Aug. 25, 2026
• 88.5 WFDD, Rachel Moody, “Davidson County commissioners vote to terminate Flock camera contract,” Aug. 25, 2026
• WLOS, Marisa Sardonia, “Asheville City Council votes to terminate city's Flock camera contract,” Aug. 25, 2026
• WCTI News 12, News 12 Staff, “Onslow County sheriff addresses privacy concerns over license plate reader system,” Aug. 25, 2026
• WECT, Connor Smith, “WECT INVESTIGATES: New Hanover County Sheriff answers commissioner's Flock questions,” Aug. 25, 2026
• BPR News (via WUNC), Laura Hackett, “Asheville considers early termination of Flock, but leaves door open for other license plate readers,” Aug. 21, 2026
• FOX Carolina, “Asheville mayor calls on city to cancel Flock Safety contract,” Aug. 19, 2026
• 88.5 WFDD, Rachel Moody, “Forsyth County Sheriff's Office to hold public information session,” Aug. 19, 2026
• WITN, Max Alfonso, “Social media post raises Flock camera questions in Jacksonville,” Aug. 19, 2026
• The Outer Banks Voice, Mark Jurkowitz, “Flock cameras on agenda at Dare and Nags Head Commissioners meetings this week,” Aug. 18, 2026
• 88.5 WFDD, Rachel Moody, “Carolina Curious: Who can access Flock camera data?,” Aug. 17, 2026
• WHQR, Benjamin Schachtman, “Sunday Edition: Electric Eyes,” Aug. 16, 2026
• WLOS, Shelly Garzon, “Flock mandates new safeguards as Henderson County residents push back,” Aug. 14, 2026
• WSOC-TV, Tina Terry, “Neighbors, police departments eye Flock camera transparency changes,” Aug. 13, 2026
• ABC11 (WTVD), Penelope Lopez, “Public Safety vs. Personal Privacy: Flock Cameras debated in Harnett County, across North Carolina,” Aug. 12, 2026
• WLOS, Shelly Garzon, “Henderson County residents push to remove Flock cameras over privacy concerns,” Aug. 10, 2026
• WECT, Hannah Hall, “Pender County sheriff addresses questions about Flock camera usage,” Aug. 6, 2026
• Sandhills Sentinel, Abegail Murphy, “County hears concerns over Flock cameras,” Aug. 5, 2026
• WBTV, David Hodges, “Charlotte-Mecklenburg police releases Flock Safety agreement after officer's arrest,” Aug. 4, 2026
• WECT, Connor Smith, “WECT INVESTIGATES: Records detail how Flock system is used in New Hanover County,” Aug. 4, 2026
• The Paper (Burke County), Mica Banks, “What Burke County's Flock cameras can -- and can't -- do,” Aug. 1, 2026
• Enlace Latino NC, Patricia Serrano, “Asheville ends contract with Flock, but the debate over surveillance continues,” Aug. 2026
• UNC School of Government, North Carolina Criminal Law blog, Jeffrey B. Welty, “Things You Might Have Missed in the Budget,” July 27, 2026
• The News & Observer (via GovTech / Tribune Content Agency), Esther Frances, “North Carolina Concludes Statewide License Plate Camera Test,” July 16, 2026
• Carteret County News-Times, Kathleen Hopewell, “License plate readers see rapid growth, low oversight in Carteret County,” July 9, 2026
• WCTI News 12, Tyler Hardin, “News 12 Investigates: Inside Eastern Carolina's expanding license plate reader network,” June 25, 2026
• Sandhills Sentinel, Dave Lukow, “SP Council asks questions about Flock camera usage,” June 24, 2026
• WECT, Connor Smith, “WECT INVESTIGATES: Flock cameras spark debate between safety and privacy,” June 1, 2026
• Watauga Democrat, Lorelei Roberts, “Boone pauses Flock camera growth amid privacy concerns,” May 20, 2026
• INDY Week, Jasmine Gallup, “What the Flock?: An Explainer on the Controversial License Plate Reading Cameras Deployed Across the Triangle,” April 27, 2026
• ABC11 (WTVD), Cindy Bae, “Flock cameras use to get second look as privacy concerns grow in Chatham County,” April 20, 2026
• WCTI News 12, Tyler Hardin, “News 12 Investigates: Pitt County approves license plate reader cameras near schools,” April 9, 2026
• North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (filed with the N.C. General Assembly), R.E. "Chip" Hawley, Director, “Initial Report - Pilot Program to Authorize Automatic License Plate Readers in State Rights-of-Way,” April 7, 2026
• The Alamance News, Tomas Murawski, “THE PUBLIC ASKS: How are Burlington police using AI traffic cameras?,” March 12, 2026
• The Outer Banks Voice, Maggie Miles, “With nearly 50 Flock cameras in Dare County, law enforcement agencies say they're taking measures to safeguard privacy,” March 7, 2026
• Flock Safety (agency portal), “Cleveland County NC SO transparency portal,” Nov. 22, 2025
• Flock Safety (agency portal), “Gastonia NC PD transparency portal,” Nov. 21, 2025
• Flock Safety (agency portal), “Mooresville NC PD transparency portal,” Nov. 21, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Greensboro NC PD Transparency Portal,” Nov. 21, 2025
• Town of Hillsborough, “Board of Commissioners meeting summary, Nov. 10, 2025,” Nov. 12, 2025
• Flock Safety (agency transparency portal), “Raleigh NC PD Transparency Portal,” Nov. 2, 2025
• Town of Hillsborough, “Town ends license plate reader contract (town news release, updated Dec. 3, 2025),” Oct. 28, 2025
• Durham Police Department (PowerDMS), “General Order 4089 R-1, License Plate Readers,” Oct. 15, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Asheville NC PD Transparency Portal,” Sept. 23, 2025
• The Robesonian, David Kennard, “Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins lays out needs for fighting crime in coming fiscal year,” May 5, 2025
• WSOC-TV, WSOCTV.com News Staff, “Lincoln County installs 30 license plate cameras to reduce crime,” March 26, 2025
• WBTV, Mary Calkins, “Gastonia to begin placing security cameras on streets,” Dec. 4, 2024
• Flock Safety (agency portal), “Mount Holly NC PD transparency portal,” Sept. 18, 2024
• The News & Observer (republished by AOL; original URL not found), Virginia Bridges, “After battle with regulators, Flock Safety can install surveillance cameras across NC,” Aug. 12, 2024
• CBS 17, Brea Hollingsworth, “Rocky Mount police real-time crime center (CBS 17),” July 23, 2024
• Chapelboro.com / 97.9 The Hill (Carolina Connection), Taylor Holbrooks, “UNC to install 23 license plate reader cameras (Carolina Connection),” April 6, 2024
• WSOC-TV, Ken Lemon, “'Too much crime': Gastonia police start live monitoring license plate readers,” March 29, 2024
• The Charlotte Observer (via GovTech / Tribune Content Agency), Korie Dean (with Tyler Dukes), “UNC-Chapel Hill to install 23 license plate reader cameras,” March 7, 2024
• WCTI News 12, Maiya Crews, “Craven County implements 'flock safety' security system despite privacy concerns,” Jan. 30, 2024
• WBTV, WBTV Web Staff, “Gastonia to install 9 license plate-reading cameras across city,” Jan. 24, 2024
• The Charlotte Observer (via GovTech / Tribune Content Agency), Tyler Dukes and Korie Dean, “North Carolina judge halts ALPR deployment over licensing,” Nov. 7, 2023
• Salisbury Post, Chandler Inions, “License plate reader cameras assist area law enforcement,” April 30, 2023
• News & Record (via GovTech), Kenwyn Caranna, “Greensboro, N.C., to Majorly Increase Surveillance of Roads,” Sept. 7, 2022
• CBS 17 (WNCN), Mariah Ellis, “Fayetteville license plate readers have stopped 250+ felony arrests, 50+ stolen cars in 4 months,” July 21, 2022
• City of Rocky Mount (news release), “Rocky Mount City Council supports police chief's crime-fighting proposals,” May 10, 2022
• CityView, Michael Futch, “Camera program helps Fayetteville police make more than 100 arrests,” April 17, 2022
• 88.5 WFDD, Keri Brown, “Winston-Salem joins pilot for license plate reading cameras,” March 25, 2022
• Franklin County News, David Adlerstein, “Sheriff to ask for license plate readers,” March 22, 2022
• News & Record (via GovTech), Kenwyn Caranna, “Greensboro, N.C., Police Deploy License Plate Readers,” March 3, 2022
• Chapelboro.com / 97.9 The Hill WCHL, “Flock cameras turning off in Pittsboro (6 O'Clock News),” date not shown
• North Carolina General Assembly, “G.S. 20-183.30 Definitions (Article 3D, Automatic License Plate Reader Systems),” date not shown
• North Carolina General Assembly, “G.S. 20-183.31 Regulation of use,” date not shown
• North Carolina General Assembly, “G.S. 20-183.32 Preservation and disclosure of records,” date not shown
• North Carolina General Assembly, “G.S. 20-183.32A (repealed),” date not shown
• Biltmore Beacon, “License plate cameras: Enhancing public safety or invading privacy?,” date not shown
• City of Winston-Salem, “Flock Safety License Plate Reader (LPR) (presentation),” date not shown
• Henderson County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Lowell S. Griffin, “Henderson County Sheriff's Office response on Flock (letter, posted by WLOS),” date not shown
• Mountain Xpress, Jessica Wakeman, “WTF: Buncombe Sheriff's Office surveillance technology explained,” date not shown
• The Pilot, “Questions arise over expansion of police cameras,” date not shown
• WFMY News 2, “Greensboro City Council approves installation of 15 more Flock Safety license plate cameras,” date not shown
• WFMY News 2, “Greensboro City Council approve next steps to put safety cameras around the city,” date not shown