From 404 Media · · 1m 40s
Judge Rules Flock Search Unconstitutional
Federal judge voids license plate search used to find 91 pounds of meth.
In brief
Federal judge voids license plate search used to find 91 pounds of meth. A federal judge ruled that police using Flock to search a driver’s license plate without probable cause violated Fourth Amendment rights, discarding all evidence from the search. Originally reported by 404 Media.
Judge rules Flock search unconstitutional
Federal judge voids license plate search used to find 91 pounds of meth.
Body camera footage reveals police search
Tulsa deputy sheriff Freddie Alaniz used Flock to search Melissa Kyle’s license plate before pulling over.
Kyle’s travel history shows 79 hits
Kyle’s car had 79 Flock hits in 30 days, with 50 during her rental period.
Alaniz interrogates Kyle about travel
Alaniz asked Kyle where she stayed and compared it to Flock records.
Alaniz claims probable cause for search
Alaniz said Kyle’s short trip to California suggested drug trafficking.
Kyle refuses search and is detained
Kyle refused to let Alaniz search her car and was detained.
Judge finds search unconstitutional
Judge Sara Hill ruled the search violated Fourth Amendment rights.
Search evidence discarded as fruit of poisonous tree
All evidence from the search must be thrown out as fruit of the poisonous tree.
Flock system tracks drivers nationwide
Flock and Motorola ALPR cameras track drivers across 11 law enforcement agencies.
Alaniz’s search used 50+ records
Alaniz used over 50 Flock records to track Kyle’s travel across the country.
Judge criticizes police use of Flock
Judge Hill said police use of Flock intrudes on reasonable expectation of privacy.
Search evidence discarded
All evidence from the search must be thrown out as fruit of the poisonous tree.
What it means
A federal judge ruled that police using Flock to search a driver’s license plate without probable cause violated Fourth Amendment rights, discarding all evidence from the search.
