AUBURN — The city will hold a special election on March 2 for voters to decide whether Auburn will ban automated license plate recognition cameras such as Flock cameras.

ALPR cameras such as the ones manufactured by Flock Safety are commonly used to assist police by scanning license plates of vehicles that pass by the camera. The technology has received increasing pushback nationally, highlighted by Florida’s August decision to ban local police from putting them on state highways. Reasons for Florida’s ban include “concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes.”

In July, Auburn residents presented a petition with enough signatures to the city calling for the cameras to be banned. According to the Lewiston Sun Journal, the petition was spearheaded by Republican state Reps. Laurel Libby, Quentin Chapman and David Boyer after they learned Auburn police installed Flock cameras without public input or a vote from City Council.

In September, the Auburn council decided not to adopt the petition then, but sent it to the voters for a referendum vote. Because this was decided in September, there was not enough time to put the question on the November ballot, hence the March election.

The city also ended its contract with Flock in August and requested that the company take the cameras down. It’s unclear whether they’re still up. Spectrum News is awaiting a response from the city manager.

Several other municipalities in Maine have decided to regulate or ban ALPR cameras following pushback from residents regarding concerns for privacy. In June, South Portland terminated its contract with Flock and removed the cameras. In August, York residents submitted a petition to ban the cameras as well. 

The Auburn City Council unanimously voted to create the special election on Monday without discussion. There will be absentee voting both in-person and via mail starting 30 days prior to March 2.