LEWISTON, ID — The Lewiston Police Department will begin installing Flock license plate recognition (LPR) cameras to assist in solving and reducing crime.

According to the department, the Flock Safety program provides officers with timely information that can help identify, deter, and resolve criminal activity. The cameras are already in use in over 5,000 communities nationwide, with the company partnering with more than 3,000 law enforcement agencies.

The LPR cameras send real-time alerts to officers when a stolen vehicle or one associated with a known wanted suspect is detected, based on state or national crime databases. Alerts are also issued for vehicles tied to AMBER or Silver Alerts.

The cameras are designed to capture license plate images only and do not identify or photograph drivers. They do not use facial recognition technology. All collected data is stored securely on a cloud server for 30 days before being deleted, unless it is connected to a criminal investigation.

The cameras will not be used to enforce traffic laws or monitor vehicle registration, driver’s license status, or parking violations.

According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 70 percent of crimes involve a vehicle. “I believe the investment in the Flock camera system will be a force multiplier for LPD by leveraging technology,” said Police Chief Jason Kuzik.