Inside Sayreville’s License Plate Camera System: Officials Detail Access, Audits And Privacy Rules

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SAYREVILLE, NJ — Sayreville officials are providing more information about who can search data collected by the borough’s license plate-reading cameras, when those searches are permitted and how the system is monitored.

The Borough Council discussed the Police Department’s Flock Safety camera system during its Sept. 14 meeting following questions from residents about privacy, oversight and the accuracy of the technology.

Council members also proposed holding a public informational meeting and publishing a simplified explanation of the system’s rules online.

Rios Calls For A Public Meeting

Councilman Alberto Rios said he supports providing police officers with modern law enforcement tools but believes residents deserve clear answers about how the technology is managed.

“I support our police department, and I support giving our officers the tools they need to keep our residents safe,” Rios said. “But several residents, including community leaders, have raised legitimate questions about oversight.”

Rios said those questions include who can access the system, when it may be searched, what it can be used for and how each search is monitored.

He proposed holding a public meeting where residents could speak directly with police officials.

“A town hall-type meeting would be a good idea so residents can ask questions,” Rios said. “Our police department can explain how the system is being used, and we can determine whether additional policies or safeguards are needed.”

“Transparency and accountability only make a good public safety tool stronger,” he added.

What The Cameras Capture

Business Administrator Glenn Skarzynski said he discussed the system with Sayreville’s police chief and representatives of Flock Safety, the company that provides the cameras.

According to Skarzynski, the devices are automated license plate readers, commonly known as ALPRs. He said they capture an image of the rear of a passing vehicle rather than continuously recording people or using facial-recognition technology.

“Flock does not use facial recognition,” Skarzynski said. “It’s an automatic license plate reader. It takes one shot of the rear of a vehicle as it passes.”

Every Search Creates A Record

Skarzynski also described the controls officers must follow when searching the system.

According to his explanation, an officer conducting a search must enter an associated NCIC case number and provide a reason for the request. Each query creates a time-stamped record that can be reviewed by administrators.

Skarzynski told the council that collected information is automatically removed after three years under the guidelines governing the system.

He also said Sayreville does not routinely provide its camera data to other municipalities. Information may be released when another verified law enforcement agency submits a request connected to a specific criminal investigation.

“Our municipality only releases it when a specific request is made for a specific criminal investigation,” Skarzynski said. “Outside of that, we do not share data outside of the Borough of Sayreville.”

Council Seeks A Clear Online Explanation

Council President John Zebrowski asked the Police Department to prepare an easy-to-read online summary explaining the system’s restrictions and approved uses.

“Could you ask the chief and his command staff if perhaps what they can do is put together, let’s say, bullet points on their website?” Zebrowski asked.

He said residents should be able to quickly find information explaining how the cameras may be used and what limitations are in place.

Skarzynski said the administration was preparing information from Flock Safety for publication on the borough’s website.

Councilwoman Mary Novak also supported making more information publicly available.

“The more information the residents have, the less fear there will be out there,” Novak said.

Resident Raises Accuracy Concerns

During public comment, resident Tom Fritzen asked officials to consider the possibility that a camera could misread a license plate character and produce an incorrect match.

“Flock cameras have also been not reliable,” Fritzen told the council. “Sometimes they mistake a license plate number like a seven for a B or something to that effect.”

Fritzen urged the borough to monitor the technology carefully and cautioned against relying exclusively on a camera-generated match.

Officials said discussions about a public informational session would continue. A date for that meeting was not announced during the council discussion.

Recordings of Sayreville municipal meetings are available through the borough’s meeting videos page.

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