New Britain Township's license plate reader cameras will soon store data for just seven days instead of 30, and the department does not share that data with any federal agency, Police Chief Richard Clowser told supervisors at their Tuesday, Aug. 18 meeting.

Clowser's public accounting of the Flock Safety system came after residents raised privacy questions about the technology, which has been in use since June 2025 and has helped officers resolve more than 20 incidents, according to Central Bucks Now.

"We do not share data with any federal agencies," Clowser said. "We decide who can access it."

What the cameras collect

The stationary and mobile readers capture license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions as motorists pass designated locations. Clowser said the system does not identify drivers or collect other personally identifiable information.

When a plate triggers an alert tied to a stolen vehicle or law enforcement bulletin, an officer must independently verify the hit through the National Crime Information Center before making a traffic stop.

Shorter retention, tighter controls

The township currently holds plate data for 30 days. That window will drop to seven days under changes Flock Safety announced Aug. 13, though police can preserve records tied to an active investigation longer.

Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley said in an Aug. 13 company announcement that the company is cutting default retention to seven days and making misuse detection mandatory for every customer.

Clowser described two additional controls coming to the platform: one letting agencies limit outside access by investigation type, and another that flags unusual user activity and automatically disables an account pending review.

The township owns its data, Clowser said. Other law enforcement agencies must request permission to access it, and the department reviews those requests case by case. Flock stores the information but cannot independently access New Britain's records, according to the chief.

Officers who misuse the system face disciplinary action under department policy.

County-wide expansion

Automated plate readers have spread across Bucks County with help from grants through the Bucks County Chiefs of Police Association. Roughly 60 readers have been mapped countywide as of Aug. 11, according to BucksCo.Today. That count is low compared to neighbors: Montgomery County has about 144, Delaware County about 193 and Philadelphia about 80.

New Britain expects to receive another grant-funded reader next year.

Residents with non-emergency questions can reach New Britain Township Police at (215) 822-1910.