‘We Are CASA’ joins Delegate Rasoul in fight against Roanoke Flock cameras

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Flock license plate reading cameras are popping up across the country, including Virginia. Law enforcement uses the cameras to collect vehicle data to help solve crimes.

But there’s a growing push to stop the use and expansion of Flock cameras in Roanoke. We Are CASA is a national organization that improves the quality of life for working-class immigrants and people of color. The organization said surveillance tools can make people feel uncomfortable in their own communities.

“The government shouldn’t know where I am or what I am saying. What is that for?” said We Are CASA Virginia Director of Organizing Eduardo Zelaya.

Virginia Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-38) is backing the group, saying communities can be kept safe without violating constitutional protections.

“We’ve had Republicans and Democrats push back against some of this surveillance technology that is really unconstitutionally surveilling us, and so many of these localities have adopted not only the cameras, but also this newer technology, which is going to be listening in our neighborhoods,” said Rasoul.

The concerns come as Roanoke is moving forward with Raven audio detection devices—approved for 75 locations citywide—to detect gunshots and other possible signs of crime. That’s in addition to the 24 Flock cameras already installed around the city, which police said have helped in investigations.

“The second that we have a vehicle description or a license plate, we can do a search, which helps narrow the search area for the officers that are responding to a specific incident,” said RPD Public Information Officer Hannah Glasgow.

We Are CASA said they feel the surveillance targets Black and Brown communities. Their biggest questions center around who can access the surveillance data and how it can be shared, pointing to cases in Ohio where the technology was allegedly used beyond its stated purpose.

“In Ohio, a clear example concerns reports that the license plate reader data was used for immigration-related searches, prompting significant public scrutiny. When surveillance systems are expanded without robust transparency, oversight, and accountability, the risk is creating fear and discouraging community members from fully participating in civil life and engaging with public institutions like ours,” said Eduardo.

Roanoke Police said their Flock cameras are used only for criminal investigations, not traffic or immigration enforcement. They also said the system does not use facial recognition or capture the driver’s face.

“Our admins can go in and make sure it’s being used correctly and that we’re properly documenting all of our uses,” said Glasgow.

Rasoul said if people want change, they should continue raising concerns with local and state leaders.