Providence Police begin flock camera installation, city council members push back

PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) — The Providence Police Department has begun installing automatic license plate readers as part of a pilot program for the year but have not informed the public of where they will be yet.

They also have not been activated yet, but city council believes there should be more information about them available to the public.

“I was unaware of it until the Rhode Island ACLU reached out to members of the council and so, I was unaware in this kind of implementation phase, and I was like oh if I’m unaware than the city residents are unaware,” Rep. Rachel Miller, Ward 13, said.

The ACLU called attention to what law enforcement was doing, and city councilors spoke out asking for more of a public conversation about them, saying the cameras are also an invasion of privacy.

“Law abiding citizens should not be subject to continuous surveillance without public oversight on how their data and privacy are collected and used by a third party,” said Rep. John Goncalves, Ward 1.

When we asked residents, they were unaware of the cameras going up as well.

“I would like for them to advertise so people be aware of what they’re getting into beforehand,” Joao Barrows, a Pawtucket native said.

But Barrows told ABC 6 News that from what he sees on the road, it is not a bad idea to install them anyways.

“Somebody ran over the red light and hit the other car with kids so, I think it’s good in a positive way so we’re gonna have fewer drunk drivers and less accidents, leave people mindful about it,” Barrows said.

And while the city already has red light and speeding cameras at different locations around the city, council president John Igliozzi doesn’t feel like this surveillance will be much different.

“For the city of providence this is not a new thing, it’s just another application in fighting crime,” Rep. John Igliozzi, Ward 7, said.

According to Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist, their license plate capturing cameras have:

• Located seven missing or endangered people
• Made 42 stolen vehicle arrests
• Made 24 arrests on people wanted on warrants
• Recovered 39 stolen cars with a combined value over $500,000
• Made 11 stolen property arrests

Thursday’s council meeting referred the topic to committee, and Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements said more information about these cameras will be coming in the next few weeks.