Henrico Police to Scrap Flock License Plate Readers in Major Policy Shift

By Billy Briefman · October 7, 2026 · 2 min read read

Henrico County Police to Eliminate Flock Safety License Plate Readers Originally reported by Cardinal News. Cardinal News Henrico County officials decided to eliminate Flock Safety license plate...

Henrico County Police to Eliminate Flock Safety License Plate Readers

Originally reported by Cardinal News. Cardinal News

Henrico County officials decided to eliminate Flock Safety license plate readers from police department operations, marking a significant shift in law enforcement technology strategy for the RVA-adjacent locality.

While many municipalities across VA adopted these automated systems to track vehicle movements, Henrico County leadership chose to move away from the platform, according to reporting from Cardinal News. The decision ends the department's reliance on this specific automated license plate recognition (ALPR) system.

Policy Shift in Surveillance Technology

These cameras capture images of every passing vehicle and alert police when they identify plates associated with stolen cars or individuals with active warrants. According to Cardinal News, the county reached the decision to stop using the technology during the week of Oct. 7, 2026.

The report did not specify a timeline for the physical removal of the hardware or detail the specific budgetary or privacy concerns that influenced the move. Henrico's departure from the Flock network creates a different technological landscape compared to neighboring jurisdictions that continue to utilize the service.

Regional Impact

The move highlights a growing debate among Central VA localities regarding the balance between automated policing tools and community oversight. Local officials have not yet announced if the Henrico County Police Division will seek an alternative vendor or transition back to manual plate identification methods.

Cardinal News reported the policy change as part of a broader update on headlines from across the state. The decision reflects a pivot in how the county manages surveillance and data collection within its borders.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Cardinal News. Channel RVA provides this coverage with additional local context for the Richmond community.