Dozens of residents filled the Twin Falls City Council chambers Monday night (July 27) to speak against the city’s network of roughly 40 Flock Safety automated license plate readers (ALPRs).
What was listed as a routine budget and animal shelter meeting quickly became a public referendum on mass surveillance.
What Happened
Police Chief Matthew Hicks proposed three changes to how the Twin Falls Police Department uses the Flock system and requested $88,400 in the upcoming budget for the Flock Real-Time Information Program. Hicks defended the cameras, stating they have helped recover stolen vehicles, locate endangered people, and solve hit-and-runs, burglaries, and other crimes. He also pledged that any misuse would be investigated and handled.
Residents were not convinced. Speaker after speaker raised serious privacy concerns:
- The system can search by vehicle color, make, and model even without a clear license plate read
- Data is retained for 30 days, creating a searchable history of ordinary residents’ movements
- Past documented misuse in the region (including a former Jerome County sheriff repeatedly searching for his wife’s vehicle)
- Limited transparency around outside agency access to the data
Organizers with Deflock Idaho and other groups made it clear they want the cameras removed entirely. One speaker put it bluntly: the goal was to show the council that the people of Twin Falls stand against these cameras — and that elections are coming.
Formal Business
Away from the Flock debate, the council:
- Approved the final plat for the South Ridge Subdivision
- Authorized up to $750,000 from reserves to help finish the Twin Falls Animal Shelter expansion (dog housing portion)
- Continued the City Manager’s recommended budget presentations for FY 2027
No vote was taken on Flock. The real decision point is the Monday, August 24 budget hearing.
Why This Matters
This is no longer a quiet police tool. It is now a full public debate about how much tracking of law-abiding residents Magic Valley is willing to accept in the name of public safety.
Call to Action
If you care about this issue, show up on August 24 to the Twin Falls City Council meeting. 203 Main Avenue East. 5 pm.
The budget vote is where the rubber meets the road. Public comment still matters. Bring neighbors. Submit written comments. Watch the meeting live or the recording afterward.
Can’t attend in person? No problem. Go here to submit written testimony, make a comment or watch meetings live
Local government only changes when residents make it expensive to ignore them.
We’ll keep tracking this.
See you there.
