"Flock Cameras Don't Track You": Williams AZ City Manager Fact-Checked, Then Calls the Cops

On October 21, 2026, I stopped by Williams, Arizona City Hall to follow up on a public records request about the Flock license plate cameras on I-40. City Manager Tim Pettit opened the lobby window and told me Flock cameras "don't track you," "don't track license plates," and that plate data does not go to the cloud. Minutes later, Williams PD Sgt. Wilson told me, on this same video, that "it puts it up in the cloud." Then three Williams police officers showed up. I was told I'd committed an "arrestable offense," was held for about 13 minutes, and was asked for my date of birth. Then I was told I was free to go. No citation. No arrest. No charges. This is the complete recording. Nothing has been cut. Swear words and my personal information are bleeped, and fact-check cards pause the video to correct false or misleading claims, then pick up exactly where it left off. I'll own my part: I lost my temper and cussed. That's protected speech, and I never threatened anyone. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 About this video 0:23 The city manager opens the window: Flock cameras 0:58 Fact check: "Flock cameras don't track you" 2:20 Fact check: "One case" of misuse 3:50 Context: who really pays Williams' bills 4:43 Reality check: "Where in the hell's Pine?" 7:15 Context: "It's who we work for, not you" 7:38 Fact check: "It does not" go to the cloud 7:52 Fact check: "They don't track license plates" 8:58 Williams PD arrives 9:51 "Disorderly conduct" and the ID demand 13:16 "What college did you get your law degree in?" 24:17 "You're free to go" 📊 THE FACTS 🔹 License plate readers photograph and log every passing plate with the date, time and location, and police can search those logs. 🔹 Between 50 and 70+ officers and employees nationwide have been charged, accused or disciplined for misusing license plate readers like Flock (Mother Jones; InvestigateTV). 🔹 Williams' FY2025 General Fund: city sales tax $7.35M plus bed-board-booze tax $1.48M is about 69%. Property tax is $652K, about 5%. Travelers and shoppers pay most of the bills. 🔹 Arizona's stop-and-identify law (A.R.S. 13-2412) only requires your true full name when you're lawfully detained. Not your date of birth, not your address, not an ID. 🔹 Arizona's Public Records Law (A.R.S. 39-121) says public records "shall be open to inspection by any person." Fees are for copies, not for looking. 📞 Want to tell Williams how you feel about being tracked on I-40? City Hall: (928) 635-4451 City Manager Tim Pettit: ext. 201, tpettit@williamsaz.gov Keep it civil. Do as I say, not as I did. ⚠️ Fairness: No one was charged with anything, including me. The City of Williams and Williams PD are welcome to respond, and I'll publish it. 📩 Tips: tips@arizonaaudit.org 🌐 arizonaaudit.org #WilliamsAZ #Flock #FlockSafety #LicensePlateReaders #ALPR #FactCheck #FirstAmendment #FourthAmendment #KnowYourRights #PublicRecords #Surveillance #Privacy #Accountability #I40 #ArizonaAudit