ULPT How to disable FLOCK Cameras.
Posted by Cold_Ranger8146@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 326 comments
I've noticed these flock camera's popping up around my neighborhood. They're basically a camera that reads any license plate of cars that pass by and gives access data to police or law enforcement. I would love to know how I can discreetly disable such camera's from working?
If you're curious if whether they are in your neighborhood or area, here's the website: deflock.me
Ominex@reddit
High powered lasers are known to damage camera sensors.
Princess_Moon_Butt@reddit
This is a bad idea, and very illegal.
On another note, it's very cold out with winter upon us. Make sure you remember your hat and scarf, and if you need, you can always pull your scarf up over your nose to protect you from the cold even further. Stay safe everyone!
zach-thedude@reddit
Boot licker
Princess_Moon_Butt@reddit
My friend, if you've been scanning this thread for three months and that still wasn't enough time for you to get the joke, then... man, good luck out there, you likely need it.
Direct-Ad-7922@reddit
Maybe we just didn’t get his joke 🤔 just maybe
megabass713@reddit
Is it possible to do it from an angle where you don't show up on the video?
Ominex@reddit
Lasers work over a very long range. Cameras, not so much...
ImaRaginCajun@reddit
You'd be amazed at what cameras can pick up. Reading a newspaper from 4-5 miles away was technology available in 2005....
Ok-Guitar4818@reddit
Lens/zoom tech is really only limited by budget. You could theoretically read a news paper on the moon if you so desired.
The more relevant piece to this discussion is what technology is most likely to be sold to consumers that are interested in capturing license plates as they enter a strip mall. Are they all spending $60k per camera so they can read news papers from 4 miles away for no reason? Or do they want the <$1k camera that does what they actually want.
Source: I design surveillance systems for commercial clients and cameras are selected based on cost, always. No one is spending money to get longer distance than they need for the application. If you're trying to clock license plates at 30 feet away, you'll get a sensor that can do that and no more. In short, these cameras probably can't make out a face beyond 50 feet or so.
CrazyPurpleBacon@reddit
You're going to run into hard physical limits first.
To read a newspaper on the moon, you'd need a lens tens to hundreds of kilometers wide.
jcr000@reddit
Ever see a photo of an Apollo lunar module base or a moon buggy taken with a telescope from Earth? No, because they are too small to image.
joe-ducreux@reddit
I mean, technically that's still just a matter of budget
CrazyPurpleBacon@reddit
It's not a matter of money at that point, it's just not possible for humanity to build such a device.
rathdro@reddit
yet
Ok-Guitar4818@reddit
Sir, this is a Wendy's.
CrazyPurpleBacon@reddit
No, this is a comment thread where you made a categorically wrong claim about lenses lol
Ok-Guitar4818@reddit
Sure. I was super serious about that moon zoom lens lol
CrazyPurpleBacon@reddit
It's actually a common misconception that idea that spy satellites can read newspapers from orbit, so your statement was right in line with that myth.
ImaRaginCajun@reddit
I was referring to a camera that was installed by the county, on top of a water tower for the police to have access to. I had business with the installer and he was relating that info to me.
Ok-Guitar4818@reddit
Oh I have no doubt that such cameras are in use by some governments/municipalities around the country. I just mean anyone looking to disable these FLOCK cams will not need to concern themselves with the camera itself catching their face at distances a high-powered laser could be operated to damage the sensor. You could run the laser the far end of the parking lot without that concern.
Other cameras, like the one you're talking about, as well as other independent surveillance systems in the vicinity are of course still a concern.
u3plo6@reddit
Ditto using the reflection in someone's eye to identify others in public. Also "decoding" shadow and scattered light to "see" into rooms.
Ominex@reddit
The current flock cameras aren't super great. They are really just good enough to read a license plate as a car goes by. Not much better than a dash cam. Or maybe that's what they want us to think...
drunkmom666@reddit
Local sheriff was explaining she has one with the ability of zooming in and out and moving direction with a live feed
DroidKnight@reddit
Yes, they offer models with PTZ cameras. These units are basically bastardized mobile phone platforms. They get recharged by solar. Use LTE to stream RTSP (port 554) over a laughable insecure network.
tell_me_when@reddit
Here’s a great video by Benn Jordan about how terribly insecure these cameras are.
https://youtu.be/uB0gr7Fh6lY?si=jB7Yo8gecZUnNaPu
AngryGungan@reddit
'ENHANCE'
chunky_lover92@reddit
These cameras cannot do that.
Aarxnw@reddit
Yeah when they’re specially made for such things
20concerned20@reddit
So were newspapers
gooeyjello@reddit
Except bank cameras.
Spamhain2000@reddit
Mount a laser on a scope that's not attached to a firearm.
Auios@reddit
Yes but you’ll need some good aim if you’re freehanding it. Otherwise you’ll need to setup some kind of tripod and vice grip
VapeThisBro@reddit
Hunting season is about over in most of the US, you can get that stuff on good discounts
kpurintun@reddit
Could just use the laser to make a hole in the case for rain to enter.. or just a drill bit from the back.. make them not ip-67 anymore
Cw3538cw@reddit
Many are not password protected, and there are tutorials demonstrating how to connect to their video feed. Though they may audit the access logs in cases where the camera malfunctions
BugBugRoss@reddit
Be sure you don't come within a thousand feet or more from these things while carrying phone, bluetooth device, or anything else that emits sound or RF.
Ask Ben Jordan how this works out.
6ifted1@reddit
For anyone like me who finds yourself asking, "Who's Ben Jordan and why does he know?", I found a summary article: https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2025/11/17/ben-jordan-exposes-severe-security-vulnerabilities-in-flock-surveillance-cameras/
hupo224@reddit
He's also "The Flashbulb" which is one of my favorite music artists!
bbennett108@reddit
Security vulnerabilities TLDR:
Easy Physical Backdoor: A specific button sequence on the back of the camera activates a Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing an attacker to enable ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and gain full control over the device.
• Exposed Ports: The cameras feature exposed USB ports, making them vulnerable to physical attacks via malicious USB devices (like a Rubber Ducky).
• Outdated Software: The devices run on Android 8, an obsolete operating system that has not received security updates since 2021.
• Hard-Coded Wi-Fi: The cameras are programmed to auto-connect to hard-coded Wi-Fi network names, allowing attackers to trick the device into connecting to a malicious hotspot.
• Cleartext Credentials: The devices transmit credentials in cleartext, making them highly susceptible to Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks.
• Unencrypted Storage: Captured images are stored unencrypted on the device.
• Data Retention Issues: The cameras fail to delete old data, with some units still holding images from their original factory testing.
• Lack of 2FA: The web interface used by police departments to access this sensitive surveillance data does not require Two-Factor Authentication.
• Cellular Vulnerability: The devices can be tricked by IMSI catchers (fake cell towers) to intercept data.
xamboozi@reddit
Some of these could be patched easily but some of these are going to be nearly impossible
RedTailed-Hawkeye@reddit
Or you could link to his videos
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ben+jordan
Kind_Apartment@reddit
wear a mask
SoMuchHolierThanThou@reddit
No need for a mask. Use a reflective hat, like the ones used for running at night. Should bounce back the 850nm light from the IRs. Perhaps some glasses that block out that wavelength. Optionally, hire a party clown to do some face-paint on you and the family, before leaving town. Splash mud on the license plate as well.
melperz@reddit
Not sure if its just in a movies but a isn"t a relatively high powered IR bulb partially blinds the cameras at night?
escapevelosity@reddit
A hammer from behind
xRyozuo@reddit
I guess you could set up mirrors lol
Farpoint_Relay@reddit
Where's styropyro when you need him?
u3plo6@reddit
Ethical though: go to your town BOARD meetings and explain to them what these cost and are doing. Some towns have had the contracts and funding revoked/cancelled.
Content-Syrup-6640@reddit
my city council approved an over a million dollars contract with flock without even putting it up to bid. Many people voiced their concerns during city council meetings and it did nothing
mongo_man@reddit
Tell a meth head there is a lot of copper in them.
Ghostly-44@reddit
There is a ton of sliver in them no lie
Gooniefarm@reddit
A halfway decent green laser will likely fry the camera sensor.
Cold_Ranger8146@reddit (OP)
how do I get away with doing this? like theres other cameras in the area (company/business security camera's) can one do it from afar?
ZookeepergameLife695@reddit
Theres tons of extra little tactics that make it a little more confusing to find out its you
johnnylovelace@reddit
The ol reliable, do it at night in a blank hoodie
Cold_Ranger8146@reddit (OP)
Yes but all the other cameras in the area from businesses will see me, so I’d have to walk pretty far in a completely secluded area to get out- seems like a lot of work
cheesenachos12@reddit
Buy a 50 dollar bike on Facebook marketplace
I_stole_this_phone@reddit
And for fucks sake don't take your phone, Apple watch, tablet, wifi camera, or any other connectable electronics with you.
IrishGoodbye4@reddit
And take a flint & steel with you should you need to start a fire for warmth. I also recommend a sturdy hatchet made of a rock, a stick, and good strap of leather.
1nquiringMinds@reddit
You should probably do something about your technology addiction if you need a flint and steel at the thought of leaving your phone behind.
DrWhoey@reddit
I work as a telecom lineman. My ex ended up fucking our roommate because I didnt message her back enoigh while I was at work, and he messaged her all the time while he was at work. He was a cashier at a gas station.
My now wife has actually worked with me in the field, and doesn't bat an eyelash even if I leave her on read on accident. She knows I might have time to check a text, but not respond because of how busy I can be working an outage. Only checked to see urgency, and she will 100% only call my phone if it's time sensitive, and my work phone if it's an emergency. Love her to death.
HardlyDecent@reddit
Glad you got away from that horrible woman. Best.
IrishGoodbye4@reddit
/r/redditmoment
womper9000@reddit
lmfao
-the7shooter@reddit
As it turns out, Cold_Ranger8146, you are not the chosen one. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
HardlyDecent@reddit
No worries. Maybe the One is reading this now as they've noticed these abominations in their own town.
WillumDafoeOnEarth@reddit
You either fight the power or you can cower.
escapevelosity@reddit
Change what you cannot accept…do not accept what you can’t change
PremiumUsername69420@reddit
OP: I want to fight the system.
Also OP: not like that though, seems like a lot of work.
NotTooGoodBitch@reddit
There's walking?!
-- OP
WaffleHouseSloot@reddit
I guess you're gonna have to live with those readers, I guess
LilFunyunz@reddit
Tape and a drone?
Xtay1@reddit
Paint ball gun with pumped up pressure.
JamesTheJerk@reddit
Take the sewer.
Cowabunga!
colantor@reddit
If its too much work just to walk a little bit then clearly you dont care enough about doing this
Miggidy_mike@reddit
And for the love of whatever holy spirit you follow, leave the cell phone at home.
cwfutureboy@reddit
That you paid for with cash
Silent_Technology540@reddit
Ok so along of these carmras rely on IR to capture footage at night so if you wear IR reflective clothing it’ll white out the image
Their was this lawyer who showcased it
I know theirs this company called reflecticals or something thst makes glasses and the like
M7z@reddit
In my neighborhood they all face outward. They all are on black poles. I wonder how no one has accidentally drunk popped one, or how quickly they would be replaced.
But keep in mind most newer cars also have Bluetooth wifi and NFC, so don't drink and drive over any.... You know....in a new car. Because the car is really nice and all
Mike_Raphone99@reddit
Get an infrared laser and do it during the day. It won't be visible on the camera, just hide your face as you do it.
B_Gonewithya@reddit
But your phone camera can see the IR sensor from your TV remote just saying.
Mike_Raphone99@reddit
Not in sunlight
B_Gonewithya@reddit
Makes sense
jimbojones2345@reddit
Plan it out properly, look at maps figure out where blind spots are that you can get an angle on the camera, do it from a decent distance, order the laser under accounts not linked to you maybe with some anonymous method, do not carry any RF emitting electronics with you when you go, ride a push bike so no rego plates, where gloves so no DNS or prints on any laser, have a plan for if you are stopped walking in and out, choose a time when you wouldn't look suspicious being in the area, walk the area you will do it from and look for cameras in the daytime, don't have the laser on you, hide it and go back to get it later maybe or have a way to toss it without raising suspicion should you get a hint of a cop car, have a good cover story or act like you know a lawyer and respectfully refuse to answer questions.
_n3ll_@reddit
This is strictly for informational purposes https://youtu.be/uB0gr7Fh6lY
And so is this: https://youtu.be/Pp9MwZkHiMQ
sleepyj58@reddit
Benn Jordan is the man. I tried working out his python script to create AI-scrambling noise overlays for plates but didn’t spend enough time on it to get it working. but it’s awesome he put that out there.
FlamingTelepath@reddit
It's so funny to me that I've known him as The Flashbulb and have been listening to his music for decades, but only recently realized he was also a youtuber. Cool guy all around.
_n3ll_@reddit
Thats actually the first vid of his I watched and I've been working my way through his stuff. Such an interesting guy!
SomeDumbPenguin@reddit
Yeah, the ones labeled "can pop a balloon" should mess it up decently
LilAssG@reddit
I attended a lecture on light and lasers. The ones people use in meetings and presentations are usually <1mW of power. Larger ones like those used in astronomy classes (which I also took) to point at the stars at night are in the 50mW range. These will blind you so caution must be taken in their use. The blue ones are the best because the green is really bright and visible at night, but the shorter wavelengths of the blue ones are less straining on the human eye, and the shorter wavelength makes them more destructive to things like balloons and such. Again, use these with caution, never look at the laser directly (like don't point it at your eye), and don't let children play with them, they are not toys. Even the reflection from one of these lasers can damage the eyes.
If you find even stronger powered laser pointers (~500mW) DO NOT EVEN USE THEM. That laser light requires real eye protection.
AddisonsContracture@reddit
This guy lasers
NorthSanctuary777@reddit
r/thisguythisguys
-the7shooter@reddit
I also choose this guys laser. NTA.
Th3H0ll0wmans@reddit
How long would you need to concentrate the beam on the lens?
LilAssG@reddit
Lol this thread coming back after months. Did something happen recently that renewed interest in this idea?
I don't know how long exactly. Not long. Seconds would be enough if you had a strong laser. Longer if the laser is weaker and if you only had a little toy laser pointer it might take a long time. Red is weaker than green, so even if the two were the same power I would expect the red one to take much longer.
I_putwaflles_in_kids@reddit
Hi, I know this is a rather old post but do you think the infrared laser from a read write cd rom would be able to damage the cameras too?
LilAssG@reddit
Hmm, I am not an expert and no one discussed that kind of laser so I don't know.
My gut says probably yes, but only for a short range. The laser in a read/write drive is strong enough to be dangerous to look at and could damage a ccd that was close, but I think they are focused for very close-range use. The CD is only a few millimetres or so from the laser source when the drive is used normally. I imagine that the light diffuses pretty quickly beyond that range, so if you took it out and aimed it at a wall, the pattern would be pretty wide. They wouldn't have the same lensing as a laser pointer which is meant for longer range use.
I_putwaflles_in_kids@reddit
Thank you for responding. I might give it a try when I end up pulling it out, I got the idea from a styropyro video
sintaur@reddit
Be advised.
I bought a $10 laser pointer off of Amazon to use for a slide show pointer. I turned it on, and instead of a single point of light it was hundreds, like a field of stars. You, the end user, have to remove the bezel to get just a single dot, to use it as advertised as a "presentation" pointer.
But without the beam splitting bezel, the beam seems really bright. A friend measured the beam to be 100mw. (My understanding is the strongest legal laser pointer for general use is 5mw.)
It appears to me they add the bezel to split the 100mw beam into a bunch of 1mw points to skirt the 5mw law.
This is the number one selling laser pointer on Amazon, 8k sold last month.
matty8888@reddit
Do you know which one you bought? For science purposes
sintaur@reddit
Don't recommend, not strong enough for fun stuff like popping balloons, not weak enough to use around people not wearing laser safety goggles. It's just sitting on my bench until I get bored enough to disassemble and add a resistor or something:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW3XTQHY
matty8888@reddit
Oh ok. I'll just pass on it. Thanks for the info
OrigamiPossum@reddit
Can you recommend a good blue laser?
WillieBeamin@reddit
https://biglaserpointers.com/
Ralph--Hinkley@reddit
I looked them up, and the blue 50mW lasers are between $65 and $90. The green ones are only $22.
robble808@reddit
Wow, prices have really come down.
OrigamiPossum@reddit
I did too, but I'd like to make sure I get something reputable.
LilAssG@reddit
No sorry I don't know any brand names to recommend.
OrigamiPossum@reddit
Ah well, it was worth an ask. Thanks!
MrsPoopyButthair@reddit
My husband wants to get a sign for our laser printer that says "Do not look at laser with remaining eye"
BoxMunchr@reddit
There's a guy on youtube that builds powerful lasers and his has a sticker that says "This will kill you, and it will hurt the entire time you're dying"
pyotrdevries@reddit
styropyro?
TheRealYeastBeast@reddit
That sticker probably came from AvE. You can get them here
LilAssG@reddit
Definitely something a one-eyed person should keep in mind.
FuckBehringer@reddit
bout to build a 5Kw pulsed laser and call it the motherflocker
robble808@reddit
I’d recommend goggles for any laser >10w indoors too. Reflections can be a bitch.
Alaeriia@reddit
I have a 5W laser I got off Amazon. I'm not really comfortable using it.
LilAssG@reddit
HOLY that's a powerful laser for a regular person to own.
Alaeriia@reddit
It is apparently as high as you can get for a Class III laser before it becomes a Class IV.
Great_Eagle164@reddit
How much was it?? Links???
Material-Win-2781@reddit
I have a commercial model laser cutter. One of the standard gag signs to post nearby.. "do not look directly into the laser with the remaining eye."
escapevelosity@reddit
This right tool is a big hammer. Get one at Lowe’s in aisle 11
Gratuitous_Insolence@reddit
Chop saw go brrrr
johnnyhammers2025@reddit
And then terrible drivers will be free to run as many red lights as they want 😊. Good luck everybody else
Ill_Albatross3193@reddit
How do you know if you've fried it?
StunningExcuse9692@reddit
Interesting 🤔 Thanks for that, better than infared?
hetix@reddit
Think I heard somewhere if you inundate them with a freedom of information notice for why they are in a certain town, suburb or province instead of them responding they just remove them as it’s more worthwhile for them to be secret , I need to now find where I heard that , maybe something in highlighting their presence, I’ll have to save this comment and come back to it , flock is setting a dangerous precedent of unnecessary surveillance
itsavibe-@reddit
Deflock is missing a ton of them too. They’re literally everywhere if you look… little solar powered camera everywhere
TheTrueKitKat@reddit
They are not all Flock FYI, a number of competitors have similar offerings but don't engage in near the predatory practices Flock does.
itsavibe-@reddit
Yeah but flock has a trademark look.
TheTrueKitKat@reddit
Eh. Black flat head on a blakc pole. Not really.
itsavibe-@reddit
Okay… let’s do this. Since you mentioned it, name competitors to flock and let’s loo at their cameras.
TheTrueKitKat@reddit
You are a loser on the internet, you don't want to do a simple Google that's not my problem. I'm under NDA so gfy
UnethicalLifeProTips-ModTeam@reddit
Your comment was removed for violating rule 14: No reason to be a dick. Seriously, get therapy or fuck off.
UnethicalLifeProTips-ModTeam@reddit
Your post or comment was removed for violating rule 3: No obvious tips. Tips that are obvious will be removed.
FinancialDay9514@reddit
Just shut the fuck up dude
itsavibe-@reddit
All’s you did was make yourself look stupid, buddy. Nobody is believing your NDA scapegoat around some fucking street side cameras that apparently you said yourself AREN’T as predatory as flock.
Goofy.
HardlyDecent@reddit
In my (college) town, students are putting posters on the poles to alert passerby. Time to Freedom of Info them I guess.
sleepyj58@reddit
Help add them! They are so inconspicuous by design, help others know where they are and update the site
itsavibe-@reddit
You right
lawofsin@reddit
This is supposed to be the best legal way to
OshunBlu@reddit
Business Reform has a video about using FOIA and similar local laws against Flock cameras.
https://youtu.be/ZMWRFjB-3UE?si=maGJFUOYKcUdiUtd
West_Garden@reddit
How does file a FOIA for these? There’s one in my area I’d like to take down.
kDAVR@reddit
The FOIA page on deflock has a breakdown of what to do and a template as well
hetix@reddit
To be honest I do not have any clue, I’m in Australia and by the flock maps we do not have that issue yet, I will do my best to research this now though
kDAVR@reddit
https://deflock.me/foia
JerrySenderson69@reddit
This worked in Washington State. Depends on the public records laws of your state.
hetix@reddit
Think I heard Glendale LA too, my memory remembers that but not sure what podcast as said above
Cantide756@reddit
That might also be dependant on the jurisdiction,
jefflovesyou@reddit
This is ethical, just not legal
WeR1UnitedWeStand@reddit
There's gold in them flocks
voyeur_chicken@reddit
Just a heads up, every flock camera contains 2 lbs of copper and 3 grams of gold. Pass it on.
lfguard10@reddit
Because they absolutely should not be allowed to be alerted to your stolen vehicle or Amber alerts.
RSKisSuperman@reddit
If only that’s what they were solely being used for
lfguard10@reddit
What else are they used for?
SchwiftySqaunch@reddit
Monitoring everyone coming and going. Using AI programs to determine suspicious traveling. Pinning crimes on people that have nothing to do with anything.
Cops are abusing them and tracking people for their own reasons, stalking and what not.
https://www.carscoops.com/2026/01/flock-camera-police-abuse-citizens-exposed/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/sheriff-misuse-spotlights-surveillance-power-risks/gm-GM07C07D93
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/virginia-police-used-flock-cameras-track-driver-safety-lawsuit-surveil-rcna230399
Skyhawk_Illusions@reddit
Portable EMP
123ihavetogoweeeeee@reddit
A bag over the camera secured with a zip tie. You’ll avoid the charges for destroying the camera.
Paintball to the lense.
jinzokan@reddit
You can definitely still get a charge for that.
SavageCaveman13@reddit
What part of putting a bag over a camera is illegal?
jinzokan@reddit
The part where it's not your camera, not on your property and you are tampering with it.
123ihavetogoweeeeee@reddit
Yes. Someone will have to come out and remove it and they might trespass me but you can still do it with minimal if any consequences.
jinzokan@reddit
A quick Google search proves me right not sure why you are dying on the hill that can get people in trouble https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2025/05/speed-enforcement-your-questions-answered/
HardlyDecent@reddit
NEVER trust the word of the police. They can say anything they want on that page, including things that would urge citizens to give up rights.
jinzokan@reddit
You don't have rights to tamper with city property wtf are you guys talking about?
123ihavetogoweeeeee@reddit
Seems like I can and do tamper with city property.
jinzokan@reddit
Are you a actual child? You are just costing your city more tax dollars to repair or replace it....
123ihavetogoweeeeee@reddit
Good.
jinzokan@reddit
Take half that energy and go to a actual city council meeting
123ihavetogoweeeeee@reddit
Why not both? Part of the decision to remove flock cameras in our community came from the fact that they were being destroyed. The other part was flooding the local PD with records requests, law suits, showing up to city council meetings.
All legitimate tactics to make our community better. So yes going to city council meetings is good. So is destroying the cameras.
SavageCaveman13@reddit
Is the question about cameras in the UK? We know UK has crazy restrictive laws.
jinzokan@reddit
OK search for us laws it's going to be the same thing.
123ihavetogoweeeeee@reddit
Oy gov, You got a license to post that link?
ashley5473@reddit
It’s my pictures in it 💁🏻♀️
SavageCaveman13@reddit
Many (maybe all) of these cameras are on public land. Damaging the camera would be illegal. What law is violated by putting a bag on one?
HardlyDecent@reddit
Littering at worst.
tristand666@reddit
This is 100% illegal in Texas. You will be charged with Criminal Mischief (28.03) and possibly Obstruction (36.06)
SavageCaveman13@reddit
Criminal mischief requires actual damage or destruction of property. Putting a bag over a camera is not damage or destruction. And obstruction requires threatening or causing harm, which is not met by putting a bag over a camera.
tristand666@reddit
(2) he intentionally or knowingly tampers with the tangible property of the owner and causes pecuniary loss or substantial inconvenience to the owner or a third person; or
SavageCaveman13@reddit
Exactly. Putting a bag over a camera does not meet the definition of criminal mischief. There is no pecuniary loss or substantial inconvenience caused by a bag over a camera.
tristand666@reddit
So you are saying there is no cost or inconvenience to the owner to remove the bag?
SavageCaveman13@reddit
I am saying that there is no pecuniary loss or substantial inconvenience. Pecuniary loss requires actual loss of money, not that paying someone to remove the bag might cost them money.
tristand666@reddit
This is not how the actual municipal courts have handled it. Also, Santana vs State (2001) clarified that no pecuniary loss is required for the charge.
123ihavetogoweeeeee@reddit
Municipal courts on Texas can eat shit. Hope that helps.
tristand666@reddit
You can say that, but that wont stop people from getting the charges as you seemed to say.
tristand666@reddit
Obstruction would be a stretch, but I am thinking they could try to say that by preventing use of the camera, you knowingly put others in harms way by preventing the use of the security device.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly harms or threatens to harm another by an unlawful act:
(2) to prevent or delay the service of another as a:
(A) public servant, witness, prospective witness, or informant; or
123ihavetogoweeeeee@reddit
Here's the thing so is abortion. If that's the states stance then I really don't give two shits about texas or Texans. Hope they get the life they voted for.
ashley5473@reddit
Is the back side a blind spot or nah?
johnnyhammers2025@reddit
Are you against all traffic enforcement or just flock?
Smooth_Leopard4725@reddit
Why are 80 percent of the Flock cameras in a 30 mile radius near me all located in the parking lot of a Lowe's?
Maleficent_Match_631@reddit
Palantir is a partner for Lowe's. They claim it's for their "user algorithm", but some people I know say that the company has already started rolling out their "Associate AI" that is meant to "help the associates assist customers by flagging a customer after they've been on an aisle for a specific amount of time." Allegedly they were also going to roll out facial recognition a couple years ago when Walmart got caught up with the lawsuits, and decided to hold back on it for a bit.
One_Assistance_5452@reddit
Gonna take a guess and say the same reason ice raids Mexican restaurants and kidnap people off the street.
brandon7219@reddit
Holy shit. I just looked up my city. We have four of these cameras. Two of them are in the Lowe’s parking lot. While the other two are near a planned parenthood.
Hugs154@reddit
Only 4 is lucky! In San Diego we have hundreds, they’re so saturated here that cops can use them to literally trace paths for literally anybody who ever travels by car around the city, at all times.
brandon7219@reddit
I believe it. I grew up in SD until i was about 22.
meetmeonthetouge@reddit
of the 10 in my town, 4 of them are in lowes parking lot. another reason I don't shop there.
WasabiKirby@reddit
I was wondering that too. I had heard from somewhere that ICE was using them to target construction workers but I truly have no idea if there's any merit to that claim.
Astronautty69@reddit
When you look at how many ICE abductions have taken place at these home improvement stores, I'm left with zero doubt that this is a way they are used.
escapevelosity@reddit
Because Lowe’s is in the big hammer business. Trying to sell hammers come on man!
Walden_Walkabout@reddit
As I understand it, Flock sells to private companies for security purposes in addition to working with the US Govt. Lowes probably installed it to fight theft.
Combatical@reddit
https://www.404media.co/home-depot-and-lowes-share-data-from-hundreds-of-ai-cameras-with-cops/
Raptr117@reddit
You ever see the trailers that cops bring into parking lots that extend way up to see the whole lot? Flock probably makes those.
Deweyordeweynot@reddit
My go to is Wasp and Hornet Spray: great range and will stick to the lens, even in the winter... Also works on ICE
MattDubh@reddit
Historically, haven't the French made a habit of putting burning tyres around these sort of objects?
Alternatively, you may be aware that Hamerite paint bonds to glass
Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit
The Brits were getting pretty big into it for traffic enforcement cameras.
dawnbandit@reddit
Expanding foam per Top Gear. Vaseline and shrinkwrap for a less-destructive path.
Character-Junket-776@reddit
Vaseline and shrinkwrap have a nasty possibility of leaving fingerprints.
Just a thought.
HardlyDecent@reddit
No criminal record = Probably never been fingerprinted
Character-Junket-776@reddit
Yeah, so that's not gonna help me. Used to have a clearance. Between that and TSA Pre-check.......I'm in the files.
dawnbandit@reddit
If you aren't using gloves to do any of these then you're doing it wrong.
Also piss disks don't leave fingerprints.
Character-Junket-776@reddit
Make sure it's not yours. DNA can shed into it.....
Cold_Ranger8146@reddit (OP)
Yk I totally would burn the tires and put it there but I’d need a lot of tires to stack and also there’s a lot of cops who would probably arrest me
1quirky1@reddit
hang tire on camera, pour a half cup of gasoline in it, light it, gtfo
MattDubh@reddit
You don't need a stack.
mokicoo@reddit
Bro doesn’t know how rising smoke works
MattDubh@reddit
The idea is to burn it, not make it choke to death.
mokicoo@reddit
Huh. I just figured it was to produce thick black smoke that obscures anything on the camera. My bad.
Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit
Naw. You hang the tyre over/from the camera mount, add a dash of gas, and drop in a match.
Cold_Ranger8146@reddit (OP)
ohhhh, thats kinda funny, but yeah in my city, that fire would get put out quick or the tire would be taken off quick because its not as obscure
Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit
It's good that it gets put out quick, as that reduces the danger to others and the pollution. Fortunately, the fire department's rapid response doesn't prevent the damage that's already occurred to the camera. They're not exactly heat tolerant.
mokicoo@reddit
Oh! Y’all are way more devious/clever than I am!
johnnyhammers2025@reddit
Aren’t these cameras just catching traffic violations? Why would I want to help negligent drivers endanger my life anymore than they already do?
South-Cow-1030@reddit
Do not damage the Camera. Your town will have to pay and it will justify putting up 4 in its place.
We could use help.
https://deflock.org/
https://deflockatlanta.org/
Find your Local Group - https://deflock.org/groups
Contact your Elected Reps - https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
lehel_g@reddit
Surprised nobody mentioned this yet. Clear coat over the lens. Invisible by the naked eye, yet the pictures will turn out blurry
paulyhart@reddit
This.
Jman15x@reddit
If you're going to do that why not paint it black?
Amonette2012@reddit
Or burn it with a torch lighter.
invalidreddit@reddit
Even back in the 1980s when there were more photojournalists all trying to get a good shot for their publication, it was super common for someone to rub a greasy finger over the front element of someone's camera lens making for soft, blurred photos. Just a quick finger rub next to your nose, across your forehead or behind your ear and then wiping across part of a lens was enough to take out someone else's work.
Grease like that might not be as long lasting clear coat, but it's lot cheaper and someone would still have to go manually clean off a lens to resolve.
megabass713@reddit
How about the licence plate, would the xlear coat work?
I just saw the video from the Louis right to repair guy. But that was saran-wrap.
Oliver_Closeof@reddit
I’ve heard that if you start filling FOIA requests for location tracking of your city council members, as well as your mayor and their cabinet, it tends to make them go away, as they ruling class doesn’t like it when they get the tables turned. Bonus point if you catch someone cheating on their spouse.
Oof_too_Humid@reddit
Thanks for making this point. It is probably the most effective way to get public officials to stop using Flock.
Here's a good link from above that describes how to do it:
https://youtu.be/ZMWRFjB-3UE?si=maGJFUOYKcUdiUtd
motorik@reddit
This video demonstrates a way to obscure license plates from ALPR cameras discretely (not quite invisible but not particularly obvious to human eyes). The git repo mentioned in the video is here.
I got it working, it's not a big deal if you're at all familiar with command-line stuff. But getting it to generate an actual license-plate overlay you can use seems a bit more intentionally obscure to avoid getting himself in trouble. Probably not a huge deal to sort out but I haven't had time to get back to it.
sleepyj58@reddit
Same here I got the program to execute but not really sure where to go from there. I saw some demo ‘red car’ ‘blue car’ files to show it is working but wasn’t sure how to potentially apply it to a plate.
motorik@reddit
I managed to get ChatGPT to give me a version that only generates the adversarial noise part in real-world usage size with maybe 3 prompts worded in such a way as to obscure what I was trying to do. But you really need to pick the most effective noise pattern from the second pass verification stage. I'll try to actually go over the Python myself to get that working, hopefully will have time over the holidays to keep making progress.
sleepyj58@reddit
No worries my friend .. I ultimately feel like even if we were able to generate good adversarial noise for a specific plate, and print them at a FedEx/Kinkos-type place on clear paper, it would still be difficult to test without purchasing a unit.
tristand666@reddit
I was considering using FOIA requests to test if I could get some made up. Do some control runs and a request, then use the film and repeat.
jtn19120@reddit
Paint or cover on the solar panel?
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NorthsideCubz@reddit
https://brokenpencil.com/features/cow-nter-surveillance-a-diy-guide-to-messing-with-surveillance-systems/
N1TEKN1GHT@reddit
Gun
the-bully-maguire@reddit
and if that doesn't work, use more gun
generictroglodytic@reddit
Someone’s sappin my sentry!
generictroglodytic@reddit
One of these is going up on my street. I’m going to take a baseball bat to it.
HiEchoChamb3r@reddit
good pellet gun with a scope
Ok_Calligrapher6109@reddit
Do you know how helpful these are? For BOLOs, theft, warrants…Jesus man, grow up.
mr2sh@reddit
It seems to me, that you could use a paintball gun to cover the lenses with "paint" and make it so the camera can't see anything. The cameras are privately owned, right? Any legal action would be civil not criminal, and there is no permanent damage to the equipment, as the paint washes off.
AndromedaCollides@reddit
ID target. Understand surrounding area. Change clothes. Disable camera. Leave area. Return home after running errands around town in clothes you were not wearing while disabling. Rinse and repeat in randomized manner.
Kari_Not_Sorry@reddit
I’m totally gonna fuck up the camera close to my place! Can’t wait! Just gotta wait for the right time.
Machine_Anima@reddit
mount a laser to a drone and launch the drone from a secure location.
Mediocre_Baker7244@reddit
Can we throw rocks at them?
biker_bubba@reddit
Whats the big deal with them? All an officer or anyone for thatter, has to do is just park or stand in the same spot and write down tag numbers and descriptions. Maybe im just being too basic in my thinking
megabass713@reddit
Do all of that, instantly, without having to pay an hourly wage, be more accurate to the point you can ID the car if it removes or changes plates. All this while being uploaded to a searchable database, which is accessed without a warrant.
biker_bubba@reddit
No warrant is ever needed to access ownership of a vehicle through the plate number or vin. In most cities officers can run that information straight from their patrol cars.
megabass713@reddit
Address all the other points of my comment first, and we can continue with the conversation.
virtualadept@reddit
I have a feeling this is going to be one of those "if you mention a technique which actually works you'll get put in Reddit timeout"" questions.
That said, if you look at the housings of those cameras they have clear polycarbonate panels protecting the camera's objective. It doesn't take much to turn those clear panels not-clear. A little imagination will present a solution.
The power cables for the cameras are probably not consistently protected - some might have conduits (which usually have access panels that can be unscrewed), others might have armored cables (like the ones that payphones used to have for their handsets). Those are probably not ideal to mess with (plus, that's AC current, which should not be messed with lightly).
There is also a certain 'zine archive on the Net which has a few archived how-tos about monkeywrenching securicams. The same techniques described apply.
superduperhosts@reddit
Silly string
megabass713@reddit
Isn't that highly flammable? I think it was when I was a kid.
Scary-Ad9646@reddit
Honest question: why would we want to disable these cameras?
upstageshrimp22@reddit
These cameras allow for anyone to obtain information about where you / your vehicle has been.
I would prefer this information not be available to anyone.
Scary-Ad9646@reddit
Can anyone get the information, or just cops?
upstageshrimp22@reddit
FOIA
Scary-Ad9646@reddit
Flock isn't a government entity.
upstageshrimp22@reddit
But the police departments & municipalities that contract with them to get that data are.
Scary-Ad9646@reddit
Ah. I see. I'm going to try it and see what happens.
ziggsyr@reddit
Even if it was just cops, it allows for tracking individuals in ways that previously required a warrant to do. Also cops have been caught looking up licence plates for other departments upon who do not have access and even sharing login credentials allowing for tracking people across state lines or otherwise outside of their jurisdiction. 404 media did a story about individuals within multiple departments colluding to track a woman who left her home state to get an abortion in another state where it was legal.
RandomGuyinACorner@reddit
Pretty much anyone. Not only do they sell data collected, but they also are very insecure.
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Atlas-The-Ringer@reddit
Because they're used to steal and sell personal data on you for profit, track your where-abouts, and generally monitor your movements(a bad thing) without your consent.Not to 'catch criminals'.
Scary-Ad9646@reddit
Well, that's no good.
calis@reddit
I watched a YouTube video where they find the right amount of "random noise" to put on license plates to confuse the camera. I don't think they showed exactly what it was but I think you could get an idea from it. Of course I don't remember the title of the video.
SAD-MAX-CZ@reddit
Some chemical that eats paint, zinc coating and steel pipes fast.
Affectionate-Ad5363@reddit
Hydrofluoric acid etches glass lenses. You can squirt it from a super soaker. The problem is you need to wear PPE to keep from getting blinded by any back spray.
molrobocop@reddit
Spraying a jet of HF can't go wrong at all.... Jesus Christ.
The idea is not to blind yourself or wind up with NASTY chemical burns. This suggestion is stupid as fuck.
BoxMunchr@reddit
That stuff absorbs through skin and attacks bone.
Amonette2012@reddit
That's incredibly dangerous. Do not fuck with hydrofloric acid please.
WestBrink@reddit
IDLH for HF acid is 30 ppm. This is like... A chemical terrorism charge if you get caught. Please do not do this.
cyrusthemarginal@reddit
In the uk they cut the poles down
Douche_in_disguise@reddit
Tie a string to the laser, drop the other end to the ground and step on it to create tension. Instant steady hands!
Bestwebhost@reddit
Consider using a strong light diffuser to obscure the camera's view without causing damage. It can be a discreet way to reduce their effectiveness.
twatcrusher9000@reddit
We Hacked Flock Safety Cameras in under 30 Seconds
apparently it's just android and you can root them lol
wombatthing@reddit
Sawzall the base
Peace_and_Love___@reddit
What’s the issue with license plate readers? License plates are state property and the only thing police get out of it is a stolen car or suspended registration.
AstuteSalamander@reddit
Do we know that the only data furnished to the government is if any stolen or suspended plates went by? Otherwise it takes a serious lack of imagination to think that's the only thing they'd get out of it.
Peace_and_Love___@reddit
What other information is there? They already have all your info from the MVA. Police have been using LPR’s for years.
AstuteSalamander@reddit
If I understand this correctly, where you are and when. Unless it only stores plates flagged as stolen or whatever, this holds information on the habits of everyone they could be interested in for any reason, legitimate or otherwise. Good thing police have never been known to retaliate (or been used for retaliation) against someone who didn't do anything wrong.
Peace_and_Love___@reddit
Of course it does, if it is reading the plates then it’ll know when it happened and it is a fixed location so obviously know where the vehicle was which would help with stolen vehicles, silver and amber alerts. Otherwise it would be useless. I have no idea what your last sentence has to do with this
RSKisSuperman@reddit
They are not only license plate readers
Peace_and_Love___@reddit
What are they?
Jefethevol@reddit
.22LR with a cheap suppressor. quiet and accurate if you know how to use a rifle
WhenSharksCollide@reddit
For 22lr, make the suppressor, burn it in a campfire afterwards.
Hypothetically of course.
Lastburn@reddit
Bucket
hitlicks4aliving@reddit
Blast microwave at it with high wattage
notproudortired@reddit
Safety tip: FLOCK is also consuming footage from Amazon Ring cameras.
notproudortired@reddit
Paint gun or water balloons + paint. Practice your aim and wear a mask.
Tall_Chocolate_3477@reddit
Dam central Washington has more than 100 for a population of less than 1 hundred thousand people.
chaddington@reddit
Get a large helium mylar balloon and put it on a weight jn front of the camera.
alexkunk@reddit
Just go behind it.... With a stick or bat. AAA and there you go
defiCosmos@reddit
In the UK, they cut them down.
masnell@reddit
I’m not in the US but aware of the Flock cameras
For those asking what is the problem, it’s just license plates? then I suggest doing your own research
Good starting point : https://www.404media.co/tag/flock/
stabbingrabbit@reddit
Can one of those Flippers mess with them?
dirtymoney@reddit
Drone with spray can attachment.
A clear frost spray would blur the lens's view
drbongmd@reddit
Look up London blade runners
Nanocephalic@reddit
Flock cameras and most photo radar cameras suck. I keep thinking about paying someone to shoot the ones near me.
Raptr117@reddit
Be a go getter, do it yourself
Psycho_pigeon007@reddit
Reciprocating saw works great 👍
jruss666@reddit
Black paintballs on the solar panel?
NationalGeometric@reddit
Super Soaker + Black Paint (HYPOTHETICALLY)
Empty-Swing@reddit
Is this what Kodak meant when he made 'No Flockin'?
itsavibe-@reddit
Dude was ahead of his time
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Quarkspiration@reddit
Approach the camera from behind(opposite from the direction it's pointing). then cut the wire for the solar panel. Takes seconds to do, but is expensive to repair. Repeat until they stop fixing it.
Fanrific@reddit
Splash mud on your license plate so it can't be read
Garbage_Freak_99@reddit
Spent time writing this in response to a comment that got deleted before I could post it so I'll just post here why Flock cameras are bad:
The cameras can make mistakes that result in the numbers getting misread. Multiple innocent people have already been pulled over and held at gunpoint because the AI thought and 8 was a 0.
The data stored by these cameras has been abused by law enforcement and used in personal vendettas by cops, and given to ICE as well.
Many of these cameras are getting put up in places like small towns that never had much crime in the first place, prompting people to ask why they're suddenly being spied on, and many mayors and city councilmen seem like they're being bought off and are shoving through approval of these cameras without much consent from or even communication with their constituents.
The president of this company is a complete right wing psycho who calls anyone who criticizes his company Antifa and seems to be out of his mind. He looks about 15 years old too? Not exactly trustworthy.
The company is selling your data and already has agreements to cooperate with the Ring doorbell company and seems poised to become a part of the whole Palantir surveillance state ecosystem that's popping up.
skinnyJay@reddit
A redacted button press combo will turn it into an access point that you can capture and sniff
2ner1337@reddit
Look up “adversarial noise.”
Phantasmidine@reddit
And the worst part is they store that location and ping info indefinitely.
So even if you weren't doing something illegal today, in 6 months does a law change and they use that data?
These are one of the greatest 4th amendment threats we've seen since the Patriot Act.
MrUsername24@reddit
High power laser, could even rig it up with a scope to get more distance. Walk there, dont use a car. Go from a distance further than the parking lot it is watching and it shouldn't have good enough surveillance to get good pics of you
Responsible_Sport575@reddit
Baseball bat?
daphuc77@reddit
What the flock?
MediumDenseChimp@reddit
Apostrophe denotes possession, not plural.
One camera, two cameras.
Just_Here_So_Briefly@reddit
Do you live in a neighborhood full of criminals?
ethnicnebraskan@reddit
Here's a fun activity:
https://deflock.me/map#map=5/39.828300/-98.579500
BYOBEnforcer@reddit
Read the documentation on the website, lots of useful info that flock just puts out there.