Use this script to speak during a public comment period at your local government meeting. Most places offer 2–3 minutes to speak. This version is under 3 minutes. Customize the bold parts with your location and your own voice.

Public Comment Template

Good [morning/afternoon/evening] [Councilmembers / Commissioners / Board Members],

My name is [Your Name], and I’m a resident of [Your City/Town]. I’m here today to share concerns about our area’s use of Flock Safety corporation’s license plate readers—and what they mean for privacy, safety, and local control in our community.

Many of us moved here to escape the constant surveillance of big cities, and the billion-dollar tech companies that profit from turning us into a product. Flock does exactly that.

Flock’s system doesn’t just record license plates. It uses AI to track vehicle details like bumper stickers, roof racks, or window decals, things that can reveal political views, religious beliefs, or gun ownership. And recent reports show that Flock plans to link its tracking system with “people search” databases and data breaches—like home addresses, emails, and phone numbers. That’s incredibly invasive.

Even if we trust our own local sheriff or police today, this system gives access to any law enforcement agency in the country, with almost no restrictions.

This level of surveillance does not belong in our community. We deserve safety without being constantly watched or turned into a dataset for someone else's profit.

I urge this body to work with [your police department / sheriff’s office] to cancel the contract with Flock, and to support transparent, community-led conversations about any future use of surveillance technology in [your town/county].

Thank you for your time and your service.

Tips for Customizing and Delivering Your Comment

• Say where you're from and why you care.

• Pick one or two local examples if you have them, or incidents of abuses by this tech that speak to you and your community.

• Practice reading it aloud: it fits within 2.5–3 minutes.

• You don’t need to be an expert! Speaking as a community member matters.