Danny Avula is the mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and a pediatrician. He previously directed the Richmond and Henrico health districts.
Case
Networked automated license-plate cameras can assemble searchable records of vehicle movements. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to ban the systems, keep them with limits, or defend them as investigative tools. This tracker separates outright bans from narrower restrictions.
Role at the time: Richmond mayor
Statement summary
Avula said Richmond should keep using license-plate readers for now while reviewing Flock and strengthening privacy protections.
“I believe the benefits to public safety outweigh the risks it poses to our community”
He expressly defends the technology's current use despite acknowledged risks.
Statement dates: September 19, 2026
Statement dates: September 19, 2026
Statement dates: September 19, 2026
