In Maricopa, Sheriff Vows: ‘Red-Light Cameras Are Here to Stay’

Sheriff Ross Teeple recently addressed the use of Flock license plate reading cameras and red-light cameras at a gathering in Maricopa. During the Arizona Republican Assembly’s Northwest Pinal County Chapter meeting, he declared his firm opposition to red-light cameras, stating, “Red-light running cameras violate your due process rights and as long as I’m the sheriff, I will never have them in Pinal County.”

Interestingly, while red-light cameras have faced legal challenges in nine states, including Texas, Arizona remains a state where they are still operational. In contrast, Teeple views Flock cameras as beneficial, indicating they help law enforcement by tracking the locations of wanted vehicles in real-time.

“Those cameras enhance public safety,” Teeple asserted. He highlighted their effectiveness, noting that numerous Silver Alerts and AMBER Alerts have been resolved thanks to these devices. He added, “We used them a lot for the smugglers for the last eight years.”

Flock cameras were first introduced within Maricopa’s city limits in 2019 and are now utilized across thousands of cities in 49 states. Recent reports reflected their role in aiding investigations, such as the November Maricopa Meadows murder case, where they helped narrow down suspects by analyzing vehicle movements.

Moreover, Maricopa police have relied on these cameras for various arrests, including cases involving stolen vehicles and unusual police pursuits. “The thing that makes Flock cameras constitutional is that there’s no way for them to issue a ticket,” Teeple explained, reinforcing their legal status.

Teeple emphasized that Flock cameras cannot be converted for other uses, such as red-light monitoring, to ensure the preservation of residents’ rights. He remarked, “I don’t want [future officials] to already have the equipment that can violate your due process rights by sending us a ticket.”

Addressing privacy concerns, Teeple asserted that there is no expectation of privacy regarding license plates. “You don’t have a constitutional right of privacy with your license plates. You don’t own your license plates,” he stated, reinforcing the legal framework surrounding the use of Flock cameras.