Brett Smiley says Providence's license-plate readers should remain a public safety tool
Brett SmileyProvidence mayor and Democratic mayoral candidate
David Morales and Mayor Brett Smiley on Flock cameras, from "One on One with Ian Donnis," Aug. 21, 2026.
Two excerpts joined by a one-second black gap: 0:00 to 0:34 and 12:27 to 13:40 of the Rhode Island PBS video. DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: Rhode Island PBS. Excerpt used for news reporting and commentary
Then-Providence Mayor Brett Smiley supported keeping the city's license-plate readers, saying they had helped solve crimes and that he was satisfied with existing data-sharing agreements and audits.
“license plate readers have made us safer and should remain a tool in the public safety toolbox.”
Original video
Where this statement fits
Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?
Networked automated license-plate readers record passing vehicles and let agencies search or share travel records across locations. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to prohibit these networks, keep them with legal limits, or defend their use for investigations. This tracker records attributable positions on that choice, including proposals that would affect only public funding or data access.
Source and context
Original video
About this source
In separate interviews, Providence mayor Brett Smiley and challenger David Morales give opposing answers about continued use of Flock license-plate readers.
Watch the clip from this source at the top of the page.
Before the quotation
Ian Donnis asked Smiley whether Providence should continue using Flock or other license-plate readers.
After the quotation
Smiley cited criminal investigations aided by the cameras and said the city controls and audits the data.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Smiley directly endorses continued use of license-plate readers in Providence and says current safeguards are adequate.
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More from this case
Read the full caseJacob Burnett says Flock-style cameras should be done away with, with warrants required if they stay
“The systems themselves can be modified to prevent nearly all abuse and be made more secure by requiring warrants for access or follow through on any data the systems collect and have all data stored on the hardware itself preventing viewing from remote locations, requiring strict login credentials and a connecting warrant number to access. These are common sense changes that if the systems are to be used I feel could correct a lot of abuse or privacy concerns but I also feel the systems should be done away with overall, especially in the realm of predictive crime analytics.”Read statement
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“I believe flock cameras should be banned.”Read statement
Buddy Carter says license plate cameras help investigators but need privacy safeguards
“Technologies like license plate recognition cameras can provide valuable investigative tools, but they have also raised important questions about privacy and government oversight. As these systems become more common, it is important to balance public safety with appropriate safeguards that protect individual privacy.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Brett Smiley says Providence's license-plate readers should remain a public safety tool". First published: 2026-09-29. Last updated: 2026-09-29. https://disputeindex.com/events/3034-then-providence-mayor-brett-smiley-supported-keeping-the