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. May 2, 2025 Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed HB 2724 on May 2, 2025, in the form the General Assembly first passed it, after legislators turned down his proposed amendments (a 30-day rather than 21-day retention period and removal of the reenactment requirement for right-of-way permits). It is 2025 Acts chapter 720, codified at Code of Virginia § 2.2-5517, effective July 1, 2025; the vendor-contract rules in subsection C take effect July 1, 2026. (Virginia Lawyers Weekly, May 12, 2025; Virginia Legislative Information System, Oct. 28, 2026)
2. July 1, 2025 Under § 2.2-5517, police may use plate readers only for criminal investigations based on reasonable suspicion, for missing/endangered-person and human-trafficking investigations, and to receive alerts on missing persons, warrants, trafficking and stolen vehicles or plates. Plate data must be purged after 21 days (audit-trail data after two years) unless tied to an open case; a camera alert alone is not grounds for a stop; every query must be logged; and agencies must audit use at least every 30 days. (Virginia Legislative Information System, Oct. 28, 2026)
3. July 1, 2025 The law bars selling plate-reader data or sharing it with any state, federal, private or commercial database; sharing is limited to other law-enforcement agencies for permitted purposes, prosecutors, defendants in discovery, court orders or subpoenas, vendors for maintenance, and public alerts. Misuse or unlawful sharing is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and plate data and audit records are exempt from the Virginia FOIA. (Virginia Legislative Information System, Oct. 28, 2026)
4. July 1, 2025 The law has Virginia State Police share data from plate readers on limited-access highways and on CTB/VDOT bridges, tunnels and special structures with the police in the locality where each camera sits. Agencies must report camera counts, queries, stops, sharing and related data to State Police by April 1 each year, and State Police compile the results for the Governor, General Assembly and Crime Commission by July 1. (Virginia Legislative Information System, Oct. 28, 2026)
5. July 9, 2025 Virginia State Police issued a statewide model plate-reader policy, as the 2025 law directed, setting a 21-day retention limit and requiring monthly internal audits that review at least 5% of queries. (Virginia Department of State Police, July 9, 2025)
6. Jan. 21, 2026 The Crime Commission's survey found that 159 of the 251 agencies that answered (63%) use plate readers. Flock was the most common vendor (137), followed by Axon (35), Leonardo (12) and Motorola (12). Thirty-three agencies reported keeping data longer than 21 days, and the Commission found some agencies out of step with the new law. VDOT retroactively permitted 215 readers already on state right-of-way before July 1, 2025: 18 for State Police and 197 for localities. (Virginia State Crime Commission, Jan. 21, 2026)
7. Jan. 21, 2026 The Crime Commission noted that the 2025 law's provision letting VDOT permit new plate readers on state highway right-of-way would take effect only if reenacted in the 2026 session; the Commission did not take a position on reenactment. (Virginia State Crime Commission, Jan. 21, 2026)
8. April 24, 2026 The Crime Commission's checklist for agencies, dated April 24, 2026, tells police not to install plate readers on state highway right-of-way (with pre-July 2025 devices needing a VDOT permit), to report ALPR-prompted traffic stops to State Police under the Community Policing Act from Jan. 1, 2026, and to use only systems approved by the state Division of Purchases and Supply with vendor contracts stating agency data ownership from July 1, 2026. The first annual agency reports are due April 1, 2027. (Virginia State Crime Commission, April 24, 2026)
9. Sept. 3, 2026 Cardinal News counted Virginia localities that had paused, ended or let lapse their Flock programs since July 2026, including Lynchburg, several Southwest and Southside counties, Goochland and King William counties and the town of Dumfries; Staunton and Charlottesville ended contracts in 2025. (Cardinal News, Sept. 3, 2026)
10. Sept. 2026 State Sens. Lashrecse Aird (D) and Glen Sturtevant (R) said they would pursue legislation in the 2027 session to ban Flock and similar plate-reader systems. Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she is open to limits but called an outright ban "overly simplistic." (WMRA / Radio IQ, Sept. 9, 2026; WWBT 12 On Your Side, Sept. 3, 2026; InsideNoVa, Sept. 2026)

State agencies

Every county

How this map is built

Sources

• Virginia Legislative Information System, “Code of Virginia § 2.2-5517. Automatic license plate recognition systems; use, reports, penalty,” Oct. 28, 2026
• Virginia Legislative Information System, “Code of Virginia updates: § 2.2-5517,” Oct. 28, 2026
• FFXnow, Scott McCaffrey, “Flock camera debate has Fairfax leaders weighing privacy concerns, public safety,” Oct. 21, 2026
• Fairfax County Hunter Mill District Office, Walter Alcorn (office), “Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn: statement on ALPR program (Safety and Security Committee, Oct. 20, 2026),” Oct. 20, 2026
• FOX 5 DC, Melanie Alnwick, Katie Barlow, “Fairfax County leaders press police officials on Flock camera safety concerns,” Oct. 20, 2026
• WHRO Public Media, Brian Saunders, “Rally urges Norfolk to end Flock contract,” Oct. 13, 2026
• WTKR News 3, Romelo Styles, “Norfolk residents protest city's use of Flock camera network,” Oct. 13, 2026
• WTVR CBS 6, Brendan King, “Avula: Richmond will not renew Flock license plate reader contract,” Oct. 13, 2026
• FFXnow, Angela Woolsey, “Community activist running for Herndon Town Council backs ending use of Flock cameras,” Oct. 9, 2026
• Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO, Kunle Falayi, “Another Virginia county drops Flock surveillance,” Oct. 7, 2026
• ALXnow, James Cullum, “APD releases Flock camera map, reveals 21K queries led to 137 charges in one year,” Oct. 6, 2026
• WTVR CBS 6, WTVR Web Staff, “Henrico cancels Flock camera contract, citing privacy concerns,” Oct. 6, 2026
• WTVR CBS 6, Kelsey Jones, “Retired officer weighs in after Henrico pulls plug on Flock license plate readers,” Oct. 6, 2026
• WDBJ7, WDBJ7 Staff, “Montgomery County will discontinue use of Flock cameras,” Oct. 1, 2026
• FOX 5 DC, Melanie Alnwick, “Alexandria police to make map of Flock camera locations public,” Sept. 29, 2026
• FFXnow, Mary Stachyra Lopez, “School board bans Flock-style license plate readers on FCPS property,” Sept. 28, 2026
• WTVR CBS 6, WTVR Web Staff, “Richmond cuts license plate reader data retention as mayor plans to reevaluate Flock contract,” Sept. 20, 2026
• FFXnow, Mary Stachyra Lopez, “Fairfax County board suspends Flock camera installations, as criticism grows in N. Va.,” Sept. 16, 2026
• FOX 5 DC, Homa Bash, “Arlington County to remove Flock cameras, end contract with company,” Sept. 16, 2026
• WJLA 7News, Winston Rogers, “Arlington County officials say it will begin removing its Flock cameras,” Sept. 15, 2026
• Cardinal News, Julianna Stephenson and Emma Malinak, “Martinsville to de-Flock, saying 'trust matters',” Sept. 11, 2026
• ALXnow, James Cullum, “'I do not think there's a role for Flock' in Alexandria, says Mayor Gaskins,” Sept. 9, 2026
• FOX 5 DC, Homa Bash, “Alexandria mayor and council members want Flock cameras removed,” Sept. 9, 2026
• WMRA / Radio IQ, Brad Kutner, “Virginia officials want a Flock camera pause; Spanberger disagrees,” Sept. 9, 2026
• Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal, Cheyenne Fenton, “Flock cameras addressed at Gloucester BOS meeting,” Sept. 9, 2026
• WSET ABC13, Lily Riden, “Bedford County sheriff speaks on Flock camera suspension, citing trust concerns,” Sept. 9, 2026
• WSET ABC13, Craig Smith, “Lynchburg City Council to continue debate on when to remove Flock cameras,” Sept. 8, 2026
• WSET ABC13, Charley Vicario, “Lynchburg ends Flock contract, debate continues over when to remove cameras,” Sept. 4, 2026
• Cardinal News, Emma Malinak, “At least a dozen Virginia localities have pulled away from Flock Safety devices since July; Lynchburg could be next,” Sept. 3, 2026
• WWBT 12 On Your Side, Henry Graff, “Virginia lawmakers consider ban on Flock cameras,” Sept. 3, 2026
• WTKR News 3, Jessica Davis, “Suffolk police use license plate readers, live cameras and gunshot detection across the city,” Sept. 3, 2026
• Cardinal News, Emma Malinak, “At least a dozen Virginia localities have pulled away from Flock Safety devices since July; Lynchburg could be next,” Sept. 3, 2026
• WDBJ7, Pat Thomas, “Bedford and Amherst counties, plus Lynchburg, are latest law enforcement agencies to drop Flock camera use,” Sept. 3, 2026
• WSET ABC13, Lily Riden, “Bedford keeps Flock cameras as debate over their use continues,” Sept. 3, 2026
• WSET ABC13, Sam Becker, “LIST: Cities, counties in our area that have suspended, reduced use of Flock cameras,” Sept. 3, 2026
• Cardinal News, Emma Malinak, “At least a dozen Virginia localities have pulled away from Flock Safety devices since July; Lynchburg could be next,” Sept. 3, 2026
• WSET ABC 13, Sam Becker, “LIST: Cities, counties in our area that have suspended, reduced use of Flock cameras,” Sept. 3, 2026
• WSET ABC13, Craig Smith, “Campbell County Sheriff's Office to end use of Flock cameras,” Sept. 2, 2026
• The Richmonder, Eleanor Shaw, “Catching up: Flock cameras are generating controversy, but Chesterfield's contract runs through 2029,” Sept. 1, 2026
• InsideNoVa, “'A lot of guardrails': Prince William supervisors tackle Flock cameras, police drone usage amid MOU (undated),” Sept. 2026
• InsideNoVa, “Gov. Spanberger says calls to ban Flock license reader cameras 'overly simplistic' (undated),” Sept. 2026
• WTVR CBS 6, WTVR Web Staff, “Goochland sheriff announces suspension of Flock camera usage in the county,” Aug. 28, 2026
• WWBT 12 On Your Side, Oliver Sabo, “Goochland sheriff suspends use of Flock cameras,” Aug. 28, 2026
• Cardinal News, Erick Solorzano, “Flock cameras ditched in Christiansburg and Giles County as opposition grows,” Aug. 28, 2026
• WTKR News 3, Naomi Washington, “To maintain safety, Portsmouth police defend Flock cameras as neighbors raise privacy concerns,” Aug. 27, 2026
• City of Falls Church Police Department, “Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) FAQ, General Order #427 (revised 08/19/2026),” Aug. 19, 2026
• WDBJ7, Robert Westermann, “Lynchburg Police pause use of license-plate reading cameras,” Aug. 19, 2026
• FOX 5 DC, Tisha Lewis, “8 new Flock cameras to launch in Prince William County, sparking privacy concerns,” Aug. 18, 2026
• The Roanoke Times (via GovTech), Laurence Hammack, “Flock Safety opponents pack community meeting in Virginia (The Roanoke Times story via GovTech/TNS),” Aug. 17, 2026
• WDBJ7, Kaitlyn Kirkpatrick, “Opposition to Flock cameras grows in Roanoke,” Aug. 17, 2026
• WDBJ7, Leslie Johnson, “Henry County sheriff suspends access to Flock camera system,” Aug. 14, 2026
• WMRA (via WHRO), Bridget Manley, “Flock camera opposition attracts Valley residents across political spectrum (WMRA story via WHRO),” Aug. 13, 2026
• WMRA (via WVTF), Bridget Manley, “Rockingham County installs Flock cameras as Harrisonburg, Elkton eliminate them (WMRA story via WVTF),” Aug. 12, 2026
• WHSV, Lauren Keller, “Harrisonburg City Council votes to end contract with Flock Safety,” July 29, 2026
• WDBJ7, Colby Johnson, “Roanoke Police outline Flock camera guardrails,” July 24, 2026
• WHSV, Mason Willett, “Police defend Flock cameras as Valley communities work to remove the technology,” July 21, 2026
• WMRA, Bridget Manley, “Harrisonburg City Council plans to end use of Flock cameras,” July 15, 2026
• WDBJ7, Robert Westermann, “Lynchburg keeping Flock surveillance technology despite privacy concerns,” July 7, 2026
• WSLS 10, Jack Doherty, “Christiansburg Flock camera concerns,” June 22, 2026
• WDBJ7, Tynisha Jackson, “'We Are CASA' joins Delegate Rasoul in fight against Roanoke Flock cameras,” June 3, 2026
• WDBJ7, Colby Johnson, “Martinsville Police decreasing number of Flock cameras,” May 20, 2026
• VPM News, Keyris Manzanares, “Community groups question Richmond police's use of Flock Safety cameras,” May 6, 2026
• Cardinal News, Samantha Verrelli, “Debate ensues as Roanoke considers Flock gunshot detectors,” April 27, 2026
• Virginia State Crime Commission, “ALPR Checklist for Law Enforcement Agencies,” April 24, 2026
• WYDaily, Jillian Appel, “Over Half-Dozen Raised Concerns About Flock Cameras During Council Meeting,” April 15, 2026
• The Flat Hat, Naman Mishra, “Williamsburg Police Chief Sean Dunn discusses Flock surveillance technology concerns,” April 14, 2026
• Axios Richmond, Sabrina Moreno, “Richmond police defend Flock cameras as backlash grows,” Feb. 26, 2026
• The Richmonder, Sarah Vogelsong, “After anti-Flock protest, Richmond police chief defends use of license plate readers: 'It works',” Feb. 24, 2026
• WHRO Public Media, Toby Cox, “A federal judge ruled Norfolk's Flock surveillance cameras don't invade people's privacy - yet,” Feb. 11, 2026
• Virginia State Crime Commission, “Law Enforcement Use of ALPR Update (January 2026, revised Jan. 21, 2026),” Jan. 21, 2026
• WHRO Public Media, Toby Cox, “Flock cameras in Hampton Roads surveil Black communities more intensely than white ones, CNU study says,” Jan. 20, 2026
• WAVY, Cheyenne Pagan, “York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office now using 'Flock Transparency Portal' to increase transparency around Flock camera usage,” Jan. 16, 2026
• WHSV, Michael Russo, “City of Staunton's contract with Flock Safety officially terminated,” Jan. 9, 2026
• FauquierNow, “Grandson caught with stolen car in Fauquier County (undated),” 2026
• Loudoun Now, “Over 65 automated license plate readers being used in Loudoun (undated, 2026),” 2026
• WHSV, Michael Russo, “City of Staunton to end relationship with Flock Safety, remove license plate readers,” Dec. 22, 2025
• WVIR NBC29, Gabby Womack, “Charlottesville ends Flock camera pilot program over privacy concerns,” Dec. 17, 2025
• Flock Safety / Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office, “Isle Of Wight County VA SO Transparency Portal,” Dec. 9, 2025
• Flock Safety / James City County Police Department, “James City County VA PD Transparency Portal,” Dec. 4, 2025
• Charlottesville Tomorrow, “Charlottesville police end use of AI-powered license plate readers,” Dec. 2025
• Flock Safety, “Harrisonburg VA PD Transparency Portal,” Nov. 29, 2025
• Flock Safety / Portsmouth Police Department, “Portsmouth VA PD Transparency Portal,” Nov. 21, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Danville VA PD Transparency Portal,” Nov. 18, 2025
• Flock Safety / Norfolk Police Department, “Norfolk Police Department Transparency Portal,” Nov. 5, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Shenandoah County VA SO Transparency Portal,” Nov. 3, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Wise County VA SO Transparency Portal,” Nov. 3, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Hopewell VA PD Transparency Portal,” Nov. 1, 2025
• WDBJ7, Colby Johnson, “RPD offers transparency on use of license plate-reading cameras,” Sept. 9, 2025
• Albemarle County Police Department, “Albemarle County Police Department Policy 426: Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs),” Aug. 14, 2025
• Flock Safety / Chesapeake Police Department, “Chesapeake VA PD Transparency Portal,” Aug. 12, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Radford City VA PD Transparency Portal,” Aug. 12, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Powhatan County VA SO Transparency Portal,” Aug. 11, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Colonial Heights VA PD Transparency Portal,” July 17, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Augusta County VA SO Transparency Portal,” July 15, 2025
• Virginia Department of State Police, “Commonwealth of Virginia Automatic License Plate Recognition System Model Policy (Rev. 07/09/2025),” July 9, 2025
• Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Jason Boleman, “License plate surveillance camera regulations receive Youngkin's endorsement,” May 12, 2025
• Flock Safety, “Rocky Mount VA PD Transparency Portal,” April 25, 2025
• WDBJ7, Colby Johnson, “Danville Police using new license plate reading camera system,” April 21, 2025
• CvilleRightNow, Olivia Davis, “Albemarle County Deputy Chief Discusses Public Safety Measures,” Feb. 20, 2025
• Loudoun Now, “How the Loudoun Sheriff's Office uses contracted automatic license plate readers to track vehicles (undated, 2025),” 2025
• Flock Safety, “Richmond VA PD Transparency Portal,” Nov. 21, 2024
• Flock Safety, “Roanoke VA PD Transparency Portal,” Nov. 8, 2024
• Flock Safety, “Culpeper VA PD Transparency Portal,” Oct. 7, 2024
• Flock Safety / Newport News Police Department, “Newport News VA PD Transparency Portal,” Oct. 5, 2024
• WVIR NBC29, Amaya Mitchell, “Flock cameras put in use in Charlottesville,” Sept. 23, 2024
• WAVY, Chris Horne, “Virginia Beach installs controversial license plate readers,” May 6, 2024
• James City County, “Board of Supervisors Business Meeting agenda packet, March 26, 2024 (item D.1, Authorization to Continue Leasing Flock Safety LPR Cameras),” March 26, 2024
• The Smithfield Times, “License plate readers coming to Smithfield,” Feb. 13, 2024
• FFXnow, Fatimah Waseem, “County approves funds to expand FCPD's automatic license plate reader program,” Nov. 21, 2023
• WTKR News 3, Leondra Head, “New cameras in Portsmouth helping to solve crime, police chief says,” July 26, 2023
• The Virginian-Pilot (via GovTech), Cianna Morales, “Norfolk's Flock cameras spark privacy debate (Virginian-Pilot story via GovTech syndication),” June 20, 2023
• The Virginian-Pilot (via GovTech), Cianna Morales, “Norfolk deploys 172 license plate readers (Virginian-Pilot story via GovTech syndication),” May 25, 2023
• WTKR News 3, Zak Dahlheimer, “Hampton Roads law enforcement seeing results from Flock Safety cameras,” May 24, 2023
• City of Hampton (Legistar), “Hampton City Council matter 22-0365, Motion to Accept Donation of Equipment Valued at Approximately $90,000.00 Annually from the Coliseum Business Improvement District (Legistar record and text),” Jan. 11, 2023
• City of Hampton, “Hampton City Council Legislative Session approved minutes, Jan. 11, 2023,” Jan. 11, 2023
• WHRO Public Media, Ryan Murphy, “License plate reading cameras going up across Suffolk,” July 7, 2022
• City of Norfolk, “Cameras,” date not shown
• Town of Blacksburg, “License Plate Recognition,” date not shown
• City of Roanoke, “Flock Safety Technology FAQ,” date not shown