Ahlers supported community decisions on reader installation
Dan AhlersSouth Dakota Democratic gubernatorial candidate
Ahlers said communities should decide whether readers are installed in their neighborhoods.
“I think people in their communities should have a say in whether or not they want these in their neighborhoods,”
Reporting
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
Reporting
About this source
Original forum reporting reproduced by Northern Plains News.
Before the quotation
Ahlers spoke at a Northern State University Democrats candidate forum on September 17.
After the quotation
He urged residents to follow local camera-contract decisions. The report discussed other officials' data restrictions separately.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to continued networked reader use, Ahlers makes deployment subject to community choice. This is a general local-control position, rather than a statewide prohibition.
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Read the full caseJacob Burnett says Flock-style cameras should be done away with, with warrants required if they stay
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“I believe flock cameras should be banned.”Read statement
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“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. "Ahlers supported community decisions on reader installation". First published: 2026-09-30. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/3630-ahlers-said-communities-should-decide-whether-readers-are