Nothing To See Here

A running, sourced timeline of how license-plate readers, body cams and AI policing tools are actually going — and what the failures cost taxpayers.

Timeline / entry

· Evanston, IL

Evanston terminates Flock; company disputes and reinstalls cameras

On August 26, 2025, Evanston ordered Flock Safety to deactivate its 19 license plate reader cameras and issued a 30-day termination notice, effective September 26, after an Illinois Secretary of State audit found Flock had let U.S. Customs and Border Protection access Illinois camera data in violation of state law. Flock challenged the termination. In September the company reinstalled stationary cameras without city authorization, and the city covered the cameras pending removal. The five-year contract, approved January 8, 2024, at $48,500 per year, runs to January 29, 2029; the city paid the first two years and would owe $145,500 for the remaining three if the contract is upheld. As of March 2026 no lawsuit had been filed, the city had not paid its 2026 fee, and the final two cameras were removed after a RoundTable inquiry.

$145,500Cancelled contractreportednot on THE TABContested liability for three remaining contract years ($48,500 x 3) as stated by the RoundTable; not paid as of March 2026. The two years already paid ($97,000 derived) are not separately tabulated.

Sources

  1. Evanston shuts down license plate cameras, terminates contract with Flock Safety — Evanston RoundTable, Aug 26, 2025 (evanstonroundtable.com)
  2. Flock challenges city's termination of contract for license plate readers — Evanston RoundTable, Aug 28, 2025 (evanstonroundtable.com)
  3. Flock removes final two license plate cameras from Evanston after RoundTable inquiry — Evanston RoundTable, Mar 27, 2026 (evanstonroundtable.com)
  4. Statement: Evanston Deactivates Flock Cameras and Terminates Contract — City of Evanston (content.govdelivery.com)

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