Asheville Police Release Automated License Plate Audit
The department audit follows a decision to end the city's contract with a surveillance technology vendor.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The Asheville Police Department released a five-sentence audit on August 6, 2026, detailing the usage of its automated license plate reader system. The report follows the City Council's August 2026 decision to terminate the city contract with Flock Safety.
Why it matters
The audit has drawn criticism from community members and privacy advocates for failing to specify which outside agencies accessed the system or the justifications for those searches. It highlights ongoing tensions regarding government surveillance transparency and the potential Fourth Amendment implications of license plate tracking.
The audit, prepared by Lieutenant Josh Meindl, confirmed 100% of internal police searches included a documented reason, with 90% associated with a specific case. Outside agencies, however, conducted over 2.75 million searches during the three-month period.
The players
Asheville Police Department
This municipal law enforcement agency is responsible for maintaining public safety and policy compliance within the city of Asheville.
Josh Meindl
He is a lieutenant within the Asheville Police Department intelligence section who prepared the audit report.
Asheville City Council
This elected body serves as the local legislative authority and is responsible for managing city contracts and oversight of municipal departments.
Flock Safety
This technology company provides automated license plate recognition hardware and software services to law enforcement agencies.
The details
The report presented to the Asheville City Council on October 13, 2026, consisted of only five sentences and excluded details on external agency search justifications. A federal district judge in Oklahoma has previously ruled that similar license plate reader systems could potentially violate Fourth Amendment protections.
Timeline
April through June 2026: Outside agencies performed over 2.75 million searches.
August 6, 2026: The Asheville Police Department released the audit document.
Late August 2026: The Asheville City Council voted to end the city contract with Flock Safety.
October 13, 2026: Residents presented criticism of the audit to the City Council.
Legal Context
The city's move to terminate its contract follows a pattern set by the Oklahoma federal district court ruling on Fourth Amendment ALPR violations regarding the constitutionality of mass tracking. This trend underscores a broader national debate on whether automated surveillance systems infringe upon individual privacy rights.
The lack of transparency regarding outside agency access has prompted public calls for stricter oversight of how surveillance data is shared. Residents should monitor future City Council meetings for updates on potential policies regulating the retention and sharing of vehicle location records.
The takeaway
The scrutiny of Asheville's audit suggests that residents are increasingly prioritizing transparency over automated law enforcement tools. Local communities may continue to push for clear reporting on data access to ensure surveillance technology remains accountable to the public.
Further reading
For additional context on departmental oversight, visit the Law Enforcement section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Asheville Citizen Times.
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