Georgia Man Sues Flock and Sheriff’s Office Over Alleged Misuse of License Plate Readers

Image: Ars Technica · Source

Tyler Murkerson alleges warrantless tracking and surveillance through Flock’s ALPR system following his prior lawsuit against Coweta County deputies for excessive force.

A Georgia small-business owner, Tyler Murkerson, has filed a lawsuit against Flock Technologies and the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, accusing them of retaliatory surveillance using license plate readers (ALPR) after he sued deputies for excessive force. According to the complaint, Murkerson’s vehicle was subject to repeated license plate scans without probable cause or connection to any legitimate investigation. His attorneys highlight that searches were justified with irrelevant or nonsensical entries such as "info," "37," or even "hehehe," exploiting a known vulnerability in Flock’s system that previously accepted free-text justifications instead of requiring specific case numbers. Murkerson’s legal troubles began in February 2023 with an arrest over a seatbelt violation, which was later dropped, followed by a 2024 excessive force lawsuit against the sheriff’s department. While this lawsuit was pending, he alleges persistent tracking and monitoring of his movements by deputies using Flock’s platform. In response to criticism, Flock announced in August 2026 changes mandating case codes for all law enforcement searches to restrict unauthorized use. The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office initiated an audit of its ALPR usage, during which three employees resigned. Advocates have expressed concern over the lack of effective controls on license plate surveillance, emphasizing potential violations of the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable searches. Flock stated it stands by the technology’s integrity and its role in crime solving, while denying the lawsuit’s allegations. The sheriff’s office has not yet commented on the lawsuit. This case adds scrutiny to the widespread concerns about ALPR technology and law enforcement’s handling of surveillance data, highlighting tensions between public safety applications and privacy rights.