- Three former Bibb County deputies have been arrested after an internal audit found they allegedly used license plate reader data to track people they knew for personal reasons.
- Coznavian Stubbs, Joseph Callaway, and Toni Lewis were arrested and booked into the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center on Aug. 10, according to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.
- Callaway was charged with violating his oath of office, improperly requesting or sharing criminal history information, unlawfully retaining license plate data, and three counts of stalking.
- Stubbs was charged with violating his oath of office, unlawfully retaining license plate data, and one count of stalking. Lewis faces the same charges.
- Stubbs and Lewis resigned as patrol deputies during the investigation, while Callaway resigned as a K-9 deputy shortly after his arrest.
- Opponents of automatic license plate readers are organizing a National Week of Action beginning Sunday, with events planned in Atlanta, Powder Springs, Marietta, and East Point.
- Flock Safety was founded in Atlanta in 2017 and has grown into one of the largest providers of license plate reader technology in the country.
- The Bibb County Sheriff's Office began an internal audit after being alerted to possible irregularities involving the Flock system.
- Flock cameras use artificial intelligence and machine learning to capture information about passing vehicles, including license plates, vehicle color, make, and model.
- Privacy advocates have raised concerns about how much information is collected and how the data can be used.
- Civil liberties groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Union, have questioned whether widespread networks of license plate readers could be used to track people’s travel patterns.
Three former Bibb County deputies—Coznavian Stubbs, Joseph Callaway, and Toni Lewis—were arrested for allegedly using license plate reader data to stalk individuals they knew personally. The arrests, made on Aug. 10, followed an internal audit initiated by the sheriff's office after reports of irregularities.12
Callaway faces multiple charges, including violating his oath of office and three counts of stalking. Stubbs and Lewis are similarly charged. Sheriff David Davis emphasized the responsibility of law enforcement to use technology only for legitimate purposes, stating, “The public entrusts law enforcement with access to powerful technology and sensitive information.”
The technology in question, automated license plate readers (ALPRs)11
In response to these issues, a coalition is organizing a National Week of Action against license plate readers, starting Sunday. Events are planned in cities like Atlanta, Powder Springs, and Marietta, aiming to raise awareness about the implications of such surveillance technology. Organizers intend to hold public meetings and town halls to discuss the impact of license plate readers on privacy rights.
As communities across Georgia adopt this technology, the debate over its benefits versus privacy risks continues to intensify.
“The deputies face charges including stalking and unlawfully retaining license plate data, with Sheriff David Davis emphasizing the absolute responsibility to use such technology only for legitimate purposes. Flock cameras, which automatically delete vehicle records after 30 days by default, are spreading across Georgia, but privacy advocates question their potential to track travel patterns.”
CBS News
