A new website allows Idaho drivers to determine whether law enforcement agencies have used Flock automated license plate reader cameras to search their vehicles. The HaveIBeenFlocked tool, created in 2025, enables residents to enter their license plate number and discover if any agencies have queried that vehicle through the Flock system.
The website draws data from audit logs maintained within the Flock network and information released through Freedom of Information Act requests. Users should understand an important distinction: the search results indicate whether an agency searched for a vehicle, not whether the vehicle actually passed by a Flock camera or what information the camera system returned about the vehicle.
How the Tool Works
The HaveIBeenFlocked search is straightforward. Drivers enter their license plate into a search bar, and the system returns records of searches performed by law enforcement agencies using Flock technology. Critically, license plate numbers entered into the website are not saved or retained by the service, protecting user privacy during the search itself.
According to the website’s tracking of public records, the most common reason law enforcement agencies search vehicles through Flock is drug-related investigations. Motor vehicle theft investigations rank as the second most frequent reason for searches.
Misuse Concerns Prompt System Changes
The availability of this transparency tool reflects growing concerns about how law enforcement officers access Flock camera data. Multiple reports have documented instances of officers misusing the system for personal reasons unrelated to official investigations.
A North Carolina officer was arrested after using Flock cameras to track his boyfriend’s ex-wife more than 30 times. The officer was subsequently fired. That case highlighted vulnerabilities in oversight of the camera network.
Concerns have also been raised about whether immigration enforcement agencies could potentially access Flock cameras, though the extent of such access remains unclear. The American Civil Liberties Union has critiqued Flock’s role in enabling broad surveillance, “Although Flock may not technically be the one unlocking the door to months of people’s private location data, it is responsible for building the door and handing out the keys,” according to an ACLU statement, as first reported by the KMVT.
What Comes Next
In response to documented misuse, Flock CEO Garrett Langley announced system improvements designed to prevent unauthorized searches. The company plans to implement a tool to flag “abnormal search behavior” by officers. Flock committed to completing these changes by January 1.
For Twin Falls County residents concerned about their privacy, the HaveIBeenFlocked website offers a practical first step. Drivers can verify whether their vehicle has been searched and, combined with public records requests, determine the stated reason for any law enforcement query.
As automated license plate readers become more prevalent in law enforcement, transparency tools like HaveIBeenFlocked underscore the tension between public safety technology and individual privacy rights. Twin Falls area drivers interested in learning more can visit the website to check their own vehicle records.