Robert Vick's campaign says Tennessee communities should decide on license plate readers locally
Robert VickIndependent candidate for governor of Tennessee, in an emailed statement from his campaign
Robert Vick's campaign for Tennessee governor told Dispute Index by email that there is no one-size-fits-all answer from top-down government on license plate readers and AI in public safety. It said local leaders, law enforcement and citizens should have the final say on whether to use the systems, how they are used and what safeguards apply.
“Every city, town, and county in Tennessee has unique safety needs, values, and budgets. Local leaders, law enforcement, and citizens should have the final say on whether to implement these systems, how they are used, and what safeguards are put in place to respect individual dignity and privacy.”
Emailed statement
Read the full email
When it comes to technology like automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and artificial intelligence in public safety, there is no one-size-fits-all answer from top-down government. The balance between public safety and personal privacy is best determined at the local level by the people who live in those communities. Every city, town, and county in Tennessee has unique safety needs, values, and budgets. Local leaders, law enforcement, and citizens should have the final say on whether to implement these systems, how they are used, and what safeguards are put in place to respect individual dignity and privacy.
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
Emailed statement
Emailed statement from Robert Vick's campaign to Dispute Index on license plate readers
When it comes to technology like automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and artificial intelligence in public safety, there is no one-size-fits-all answer from top-down government. The balance between public safety and personal privacy is best determined at the local level by the people who live in those communities. Every city, town, and county in Tennessee has unique safety needs, values, and budgets. Local leaders, law enforcement, and citizens should have the final say on whether to implement these systems, how they are used, and what safeguards are put in place to respect individual dignity and privacy.
About this source
Robert Vick's campaign sent this unsigned statement by email from its [email protected] address in reply to a Dispute Index request about license plate readers. The link is to his campaign website; the statement itself is not published there.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Dispute Index asked Vick where he stands on Flock-style license plate readers. His campaign replied by email that there is "no one-size-fits-all answer from top-down government" and that the balance between public safety and privacy "is best determined at the local level by the people who live in those communities."
After the quotation
The email ends with this paragraph and is unsigned.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. The campaign neither supports nor opposes the systems and leaves adoption, use and safeguards to each community, so we labeled it Mixed or conditional. Local choice with safeguards fits the Guardrails step.
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More from this case
Read the full caseGluba says Flock and other license plate cameras violate the Fourth Amendment and should be removed
“They are a complete violation of community privacy and safety, they are in direct violation of the fourth amendment to the US constitution and should by law be removed immediately. They have been abused throughout the country by various LEOs and citizens alike as they have little to no security in their software. Every other day we see a new article about someone using a LPR camera system to spy on and track an ex girlfriend or boyfriend, or we see that someone has again used them to track children. They must be removed!”Read statement
Ellis would prohibit Flock-style cameras in Maryland and bar public agencies from contracting for them
“I oppose the the use of flock style cameras and would prohibit their use in Maryland. I would also prohibit any state or public agency from contracting with these surveilance tools.”Read statement
Brandenburg opposes Flock-style camera networks in Michigan
“I, Donna Brandenburg, oppose Flock and all 3rd party - Flock-style license plate camera networks in Michigan. Tracking the movements of law-abiding citizens without a warrant is an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 11 of the Michigan Constitution, which expressly protects 'electronic data and electronic communications.' As governor, I would end state participation in these surveillance networks, require a warrant based on probable cause before any data is collected or accessed, and order existing data on innocent drivers destroyed.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Robert Vick's campaign says Tennessee communities should decide on license plate readers locally". First published: 2026-09-30. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/3918-robert-vick-s-campaign-for-tennessee-governor-told