Flock Safety's AI Cameras Misread Plates, Innocent People Pay

Misreads by Flock's automated license plate readers have resulted in people being stopped at gunpoint, sent to jail, and mauled by police dogs

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Flock Safety's license plate readers are used by police in thousands of communities. When the cameras make mistakes, the consequences can be severe. Business Insider reviewed police records, lawsuits, and local news coverage across the country and found that misreads by Flock's automated license plate readers, or a lack of verification by officers, have resulted in people who hadn't committed crimes being stopped at gunpoint, sent to jail, or mauled by a police dog, among other outcomes.

Why it matters

Flock's rise as one of the industry's biggest players in automated license plate readers has drawn scrutiny over privacy concerns, but less attention has been paid to the accuracy of the technology. Errors in the system can have devastating consequences for innocent people, raising questions about the reliability of these surveillance tools and the need for greater oversight and accountability.

The details

In several incidents reviewed by Business Insider, Flock's cameras misread license plates, leading to people being wrongfully detained or arrested. For example, in Toledo, Ohio, a Flock camera misread the "7" on Brandon Upchurch's license plate as a "2", resulting in him being mauled by a police dog and spending time in jail. In Morristown, Tennessee, a Flock camera misread the "O" in a license plate as a "0", leading to the Herron family being pulled over at gunpoint with their 3-year-old granddaughter in the car. These cases highlight the potential for serious harm when the technology fails.

  • In April 2024, Brandon Upchurch was pulled over in Toledo, Ohio.
  • Eight months earlier, in June 2023, the Herron family was pulled over in Morristown, Tennessee.

The players

Brandon Upchurch

A 45-year-old man from Toledo, Ohio, who was mauled by a police dog and spent time in jail after a Flock camera misread his license plate.

JC and Carolyn Herron

A couple from Morristown, Tennessee, who were pulled over at gunpoint with their 3-year-old granddaughter in the car after a Flock camera misread their license plate.

Flock Safety

A technology startup that provides automated license plate readers and other surveillance tools to law enforcement agencies, businesses, and homeowner associations.

Adrian Wilson

A Toledo police officer who released a police dog on Brandon Upchurch after a Flock camera misread his license plate.

Roger Overholt

The police chief in Morristown, Tennessee, who defended the officers' actions in the Herron family incident.

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What they’re saying

“If Flock's unreliable surveillance technology is sending innocent people to jail, causing them to be stopped at gunpoint or mauled by dogs, that should be a major red flag for any community considering purchasing its system.”

— Sen. Ron Wyden (Business Insider)

“This is the most serious risk of all, that you have a high-stakes situation where police think they're apprehending a violent criminal and it's a family.”

— Max Isaacs, Director of technology law and policy, Policing Project at New York University's School of Law (Business Insider)

“We were two old people just on our way to the doctor. What kind of threat were we with a 3-year-old in the backseat?”

— Carolyn Herron (Business Insider)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.