Coralville to Reconsider License Plate Reader Cameras After Policy Concerns

City council plans to vote on removing Flock Safety cameras following complaints from Iowa Attorney General's Office.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Coralville City Council will reconsider its use of automatic license plate reader cameras after the Iowa Attorney General's Office flagged the city's policy that limits the use of the cameras for immigration enforcement. Instead of amending the policy, the city council plans to consider removing the cameras at its next meeting.

Why it matters

Coralville's use of the Flock Safety license plate reader cameras has been controversial, with some residents expressing concerns about privacy and data collection. The Attorney General's Office complaint alleges the city's policy violates state law, leading the council to now consider removing the cameras entirely.

The details

The city council approved a budget last year that included $18,000 for six Flock Safety cameras to be placed in key locations. The cameras are designed to alert law enforcement to vehicles identified through Amber or Silver alerts, as well as run license plate numbers against databases of arrest warrants and missing vehicle reports. However, the city's policy prohibited using the cameras 'solely for immigration purposes', which the Attorney General's Office said violated state law.

  • The city council approved the use of the Flock cameras in a 3-2 vote in September 2025.
  • The city council plans to reconsider the cameras at its next meeting later this month.

The players

Coralville City Council

The governing body of Coralville, Iowa that approved the use of the Flock Safety license plate reader cameras and is now reconsidering that decision.

Iowa Attorney General's Office

The state government agency that flagged Coralville's policy limiting the use of the license plate reader cameras for immigration enforcement as a violation of state law.

Flock Safety

The company that provides the automatic license plate reader cameras to Coralville and other law enforcement agencies.

Hai Huynh

A Coralville City Council member who voted against implementing the Flock cameras last year and now supports removing them.

Mike Knudsen

A Coralville City Council member who also voted against implementing the Flock cameras last year.

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What they’re saying

“If the political climate had been different, this might be a great tool for our (police department) and to say no to this technology does not mean that we don't support our (police department). We support them, but support comes in many ways. … So at this time, I don't think this technology is right for us, and I will be in favor to bring the contract back to the table to have a vote.”

— Hai Huynh, Coralville City Council Member (thegazette.com)

“I'll say that when I voted for the Flock stuff, I was on the fence from the beginning. ... I also feel that the way it sits right now that, and with the way the state keeps continuing to take away local control from our cities and our counties continuously. … if this would have been the way it was back when we voted I wouldn't have voted.”

— Royce Peterson, Coralville City Council Member (thegazette.com)

What’s next

The Coralville City Council plans to vote on whether to remove the Flock Safety license plate reader cameras at its next meeting later this month.

The takeaway

Coralville's reconsideration of the controversial license plate reader cameras highlights the ongoing tensions between local control, privacy concerns, and state-level policy directives. The city's decision could set a precedent for other Iowa communities grappling with the use of this surveillance technology.