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FOR FLOCK'S SAKE

ALPR records in Vermont

Ask your police department or sheriff what their license-plate cameras log, who they share with, and what they cost. A starting point, not legal advice.

Public records law

Vermont Public Records Act

1 V.S.A. § 318

Response deadline

“Promptly,” meaning no more than 3 business days from receiving the request (unless the section allows otherwise).

Checked against the official statute text on 2026-10-13. Laws change, so read the source before you rely on it.

Fees & appeals

  • Set a fee cap in your letter and ask for an estimate before any work that would exceed it.
  • Ask for electronic copies. They're usually cheaper than paper.
  • If anything is withheld, ask for the specific exemption and the reasonably segregable parts.
  • If you're denied or the deadline passes, ask the agency in writing how to appeal; the appeal route is set out in Vermont's statute (source).

General guidance, not state-specific fee or appeal rules.

What to ask for

  • Search audit logs

    Every ALPR search: date, the officer or agency, the plate or reason entered, and the case number. This shows who is looking, and why.

  • Contract & invoices

    The vendor agreement (Flock Safety or other), renewals, purchase orders and what it costs.

  • Retention policy

    How long plate reads are kept and the records retention schedule that applies.

  • Sharing list

    Every outside agency or organization that can search your local cameras, and the ones your agency can search.

  • Hot lists

    Which watch lists are loaded into the system, who can add plates, on what basis, and how many alerts fired.

  • Policy & camera list

    The written use policy or general order, and the number and locations of cameras.

Your Vermont request

Using 1 V.S.A. § 318. Deadline: “Promptly,” meaning no more than 3 business days from receiving the request (unless the section allows otherwise). State guide →

Every state's law differs on deadlines, fees and how to submit. Find yours in the Reporters Committee Open Government Guide. Not legal advice. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

[Your Name]
[Address · Email · Phone]
October 13, 2026

To: Public Records Officer, [Agency name]

Re: Public records request: automated license plate reader (ALPR) records

Under the Vermont Public Records Act (1 V.S.A. § 318 and related provisions), I request copies of the following records, in electronic format where available:

1. All contracts, purchase orders, renewals, and invoices with any ALPR vendor (including Flock Safety) from January 1, 2024 to present.
2. Any policy, general order, or procedure governing ALPR use, data retention, sharing, and access.
3. A list of outside agencies or organizations with which ALPR data is shared, or which have access to your ALPR system or network.
4. Audit logs, search logs, or audit reports of ALPR queries from January 1, 2024 to present, including the stated reason for each search where recorded.
5. The number and locations of ALPR cameras operated by or on behalf of the agency.
6. Any records retention schedule that applies to ALPR data.
7. Any hot lists, watch lists, or alert lists loaded into the ALPR system (or records describing who may add entries and on what basis), and the number of hot-list alerts from January 1, 2024 to present.

If any portion is withheld, please cite the specific exemption and release all reasonably segregable portions. If fees will exceed $25, please contact me before proceeding. I request a fee waiver because this information is in the public interest and is not sought for commercial purposes.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
Open in email

City files in Vermont

Each city file links to a request prefilled for that city. Find the exact agency name and records portal on the agency's website.

Vermont ALPR law

23 V.S.A. § 1607 to 1608 (effective until July 1, 2025) 23 V.S.A. §1609 (effective July 2, 2025, or July 1, 2027)

Requires a law enforcement officer to be certified in the use of an ALPR by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council. ALPR use and active data access are restricted to legitimate law enforcement purposes, with active data accessible only within the past seven days by designated personnel with account access. Requests for active data must be in writing, include requester information and provide specific and articulable facts showing reasonable grounds that data are relevant and material to an ongoing investigation or enforcement action. The written request must be retained for less than three years. Outlines procedures for requesting historical data. ALPR system data shall only be retained for 18 months after the date it was obtained. Data may be retained beyond the 18-month period pursuant to a preservation request, disclosure order, or warrant. The Department of Public Safety, in consultation with the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall establish a review process to ensure that information obtained is used only for permitted purposes. The Department of Public Safety may adopt rules to implement the law.

Summary quoted from NCSL, Automated License Plate Readers: State Statutes, updated September 28, 2026. Not legal advice; read the statute.