Why are Everett’s Flock license plate cameras back on? On April 22, 2026, the City of Everett confirmed it had reactivated its 68-camera Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) network after Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6002 — the Driver Privacy Act — on March 30, 2026. SB 6002 exempts ALPR footage from the state Public Records Act, reversing the practical effect of a February 2026 Snohomish County Superior Court ruling that had forced Everett to pause the entire network. Most cameras came back online April 7. A Superior Court hearing on May 14, 2026 will test whether the pre-law February ruling still stands, even though the underlying statute has changed.
The Short Version of a Long Story
Everett’s Flock camera saga has four chapters:
- Chapter 1 — Deployment. Everett Police Department deployed 68 Flock Safety ALPR cameras across the city over 2023–2024 as a stolen-vehicle, missing-person, and major-crime investigation tool. The cameras read license plates of passing vehicles, tag time and location, and retain data for a set period.
- Chapter 2 — The Public Records Lawsuit. In February 2026, a Snohomish County Superior Court judge ruled that Everett’s ALPR footage qualifies as a public record under Washington’s Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). Under that reading, anyone could file a public records request and obtain license-plate scan data — a result the city said was incompatible with operating the system, since disclosing plate data would let anyone track anyone else.
- Chapter 3 — The Pause. Everett turned off the Flock network in February 2026. Stanwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and Redmond made similar decisions around the same time.
- Chapter 4 — SB 6002 and the Reactivation. Washington’s legislature passed Senate Bill 6002, the Driver Privacy Act, in the 2026 session. Gov. Ferguson signed it on March 30, 2026. Everett filed a motion April 3 asking the court to vacate the February ruling in light of the new law. The city restarted the cameras on April 7.
What SB 6002 — the Driver Privacy Act — Actually Does
SB 6002 is a Washington state law that simultaneously tightens privacy protections on ALPR use and exempts ALPR data from public records disclosure. It’s structured as a trade: law enforcement retains the investigative tool, but under new statewide guardrails.
Key provisions:
- 21-day retention cap. ALPR data must be deleted within 21 days unless tied to an active investigation.
- Warrant requirement for private-entity data. Law enforcement cannot obtain ALPR data from private entities without a warrant.
- Ban on sale of ALPR data. Buying and selling ALPR data is prohibited.
- Sensitive-location prohibition. ALPR cameras may not be positioned to capture data at or around immigration-related facilities, reproductive healthcare facilities, schools, places of worship, courts, and food banks.
- Public Records Act exemption. ALPR footage is now explicitly exempt from public disclosure under the Public Records Act — the provision that enabled Everett and similar cities to reactivate their networks.
- Audit and transparency requirements. Regular auditing and transparency reporting, with enforceable accountability measures carrying legal consequences for agency or vendor violations.
What Happens on May 14
The May 14, 2026 Superior Court hearing was originally scheduled to address the February ruling that forced the pause. The legal question now is whether that ruling survives SB 6002. Everett’s motion argues that the new Public Records Act exemption renders the February ruling moot. The opposing parties — including the plaintiff who originally sought the ALPR data as public record — can argue the February ruling applied to data captured before SB 6002’s effective date and should still require disclosure.
Three outcomes are possible:
- The judge vacates the February ruling — the clearest win for the city and ends the specific dispute.
- The judge rules SB 6002 applies prospectively, preserving the pre-law ruling on pre-law data but not on anything captured after March 30.
- The judge denies the motion — forcing the city either to continue operating under partial disclosure exposure or pause again while appealing.
How the 68 Cameras Are Deployed
Everett’s Flock network is sited on arterial roads and high-volume intersections across the city, with typical camera placements chosen for traffic throughput rather than neighborhood surveillance. Police department public materials have described the system’s primary use cases as stolen vehicle recovery, Amber and Silver Alert searches, missing-persons cases, and major-crime investigation. Flock’s own white papers emphasize plate-reading speed and hotlist matching against state and federal databases.
Under SB 6002, camera placements near sensitive locations (immigration facilities, reproductive healthcare, schools, houses of worship, courts, food banks) have to be reviewed. Everett has not publicly released a camera-by-camera audit of its 68-camera network against the new statute’s sensitive-location list, though the law’s compliance window allows time for that review.
Why This Everett Story Matters Statewide
Everett is one of the largest Washington cities that had its ALPR system forced offline by the February Public Records ruling. Its reactivation playbook — file a motion to vacate, cite SB 6002, restart the cameras while awaiting a hearing — is the template other paused Washington cities are likely to follow. Stanwood has publicly announced reactivation. Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and Redmond are each making their own decisions about whether and when to turn systems back on. The May 14 Everett hearing is effectively a test case for every Washington city still waiting on a ruling.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Everett turn its Flock cameras off and when did they come back on?
Everett paused its 68-camera Flock ALPR network in February 2026 after a Snohomish County Superior Court judge ruled the footage qualified as a public record. Most cameras came back online April 7, 2026, after Gov. Bob Ferguson signed SB 6002 on March 30.
What is SB 6002, the Driver Privacy Act?
SB 6002 is a 2026 Washington state law that regulates automated license plate reader use, requires a 21-day data retention cap, prohibits sale of ALPR data, bans camera placement at sensitive locations including immigration facilities and reproductive healthcare, and exempts ALPR footage from the state Public Records Act.
How many Flock cameras does Everett have?
Everett’s Flock Safety network is made up of 68 ALPR cameras positioned on arterial roads and high-volume intersections across the city.
What does the May 14 Superior Court hearing decide?
The May 14, 2026 hearing addresses Everett’s April 3 motion to vacate the February Superior Court ruling that had forced the ALPR network offline. The court will decide whether SB 6002’s Public Records Act exemption nullifies that earlier ruling, or whether pre-law data remains subject to disclosure.
Can I still file a public records request for Flock camera footage in Everett?
Under SB 6002, ALPR footage is now exempt from the Washington Public Records Act. Public records requests for Flock camera data are unlikely to be granted. The May 14 hearing will clarify whether any data captured before March 30, 2026 remains subject to the older ruling.
How long does Everett keep Flock camera data?
SB 6002 requires ALPR data to be deleted within 21 days of capture unless the data is tied to an active investigation. Everett’s retention policy must comply with that statewide 21-day cap.
What sensitive locations are protected from Flock camera placement under SB 6002?
SB 6002 prohibits ALPR camera placements that capture data at or around facilities related to immigration matters, reproductive healthcare, schools, places of worship, courts, and food banks.
Are other Washington cities reactivating their Flock cameras too?
Yes. Stanwood has publicly announced reactivation. Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and Redmond — each of which had shut down ALPR systems during 2025 or early 2026 — are each making their own reactivation decisions. Everett’s May 14 hearing is the closest-watched test case.
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