A Wichita resident has filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing that its network of automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) constitutes unconstitutional surveillance.
The case could have national implications for how cities use such technology.
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Mason Grimmett filed the lawsuit on July 30, represented by the Kansas Justice Institute.
He claims that Wichita's roughly 200 Flock Safety cameras photograph and catalog every passing vehicle without a warrant, probable cause, or judicial oversight.
Grimmett is not seeking a settlement.
Instead, he wants the court to declare the program unconstitutional under Section 15 of the Kansas Bill of Rights and order the cameras removed.
He describes himself as “trapped” in an “indiscriminate and warrantless dragnet surveillance of anyone, and everyone, driving in the City of Wichita.”
A Ruling With National Stakes
The verdict in this case could significantly impact the ALPR debate.
A win for Grimmett would likely force Wichita to shut off its cameras and could provide a legal roadmap for challenging similar systems in other states.
Cities that installed cameras with little public debate might suddenly face legal challenges over mass vehicle surveillance.
The lawsuit, first reported by KSN, says Wichita's data can be accessed by virtually every city police officer and hundreds of outside law-enforcement agencies.
The city reportedly cannot track where the information goes once another agency receives it.
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This means Wichita may not know who is searching its data, why they are searching it, or whether the information is being shared again.
