Short answer: Flock's standard license plate reader documentation lists vehicle images, plate data,
time and camera location; it does not list microphone audio as LPR data. Because Flock sells other sensor
and video products, verify the exact hardware and contract in your location rather than assuming every pole is identical.
What the cameras are documented to do
- License plate capture — photograph and recognize plates (the core function)
- Vehicle descriptors — make, model, color, distinguishing features
- Optional video clips — some deployments record short clips around plate events, at the agency's discretion
Flock's published LPR policy defines the stored data as plate and vehicle images, vehicle characteristics, plate number and state, date, time and camera location. If a specific agency added audio capabilities through a separate system, that would be a different product — and worth asking your local department about directly.
Why people assume they might record audio
- Flock cameras look like general surveillance cameras mounted on poles.
- They're often confused with traffic cameras or body-worn camera systems that do record audio.
- Coverage rarely distinguishes "records video" from "records audio."
Product names matter: an LPR camera, a video camera and a gunshot-detection sensor can have different capabilities. A photograph of a pole is not enough to establish which system is installed.
Bottom line: treat "no documented audio recording" as the accurate answer today — and if you want
certainty for your city, ask for the specific hardware configuration in a public records request.
Related questions
Do Flock cameras record video?
Plate capture is the core; video depends on the agency's configuration. Full answer →
Do Flock cameras track speed?
No — they're plate readers, not speed cameras. Full answer →
How do Flock cameras work?
Step by step: capture, recognition, matching, alerts. Full answer →
How to verify your local installation
- Ask for the camera model numbers and current hardware inventory.
- Request the signed contract, statement of work and product specification sheets.
- Ask whether any device at the site contains a microphone or stores audio files.
- Request the agency's retention, access and data-sharing policies for each product.
Use the free public-records request generator to create a narrower request.