Fixed Flock cameras: up to 75 feet
Flock's FAQ says its motion detection works up to 75 feet and that the field of view is about 20 feet wide at that distance. The company recommends putting cameras close to the lane and warns against aiming across lanes. Real-world plate capture depends on:
- Weather and lighting — rain, glare, and darkness all affect reads.
- Vehicle speed — faster traffic is harder to capture cleanly.
- Angle and position — cameras are aimed at specific lanes.
- Plate condition — dirty, damaged, or obscured plates read poorly.
The 75-foot number applies to Flock's published guidance for fixed neighborhood cameras. Flock also sells short-range and long-range models, so there is no single range that describes every installation. Read Flock Safety's FAQ.
Can Flock cameras read plates at night?
Yes, they are designed to. Flock markets infrared illumination and NightVision for nighttime vehicle and plate capture. Darkness does not make a vehicle invisible, although glare, rain, plate condition and camera angle can still reduce the quality of a read.
Drones: a different story
Flock's Alpha drone is marketed as reading license plates from up to 2,000 feet. That claim comes from Flock and describes a drone camera, not the pole-mounted Falcon cameras most people mean when they search for a "Flock camera."