El Cajon Flock Camera Lawsuit: McKenzie Scott PC Investigating Private Claims on Behalf of El Cajon Drivers for Illegally Shared License Plate Data

San Diego civil rights and police misconduct law firm says anyone who drove through El Cajon in the past six months, including people who live, work, or shop there, may be entitled to a damages award under California’s license plate privacy law

El Cajon, CA

McKenzie Scott PC, a San Diego civil rights law firm known for holding government agencies accountable and successfully handling police misconduct cases, is investigating potential class action claims against the City of El Cajon and Flock Safety on behalf of drivers whose license plate data may have been illegally shared with law enforcement agencies outside California.

If you drove through El Cajon–whether you live, work, shop, attend school, or visit family there–you may be entitled to a damages award. The firm is offering free, confidential case reviews at (619) 794-0451 and through its El Cajon Flock Camera Lawsuit page.

The investigation follows a lawsuit filed on October 3, 2025, by California Attorney General Rob Bonta in San Diego County Superior Court. The Attorney General alleges that El Cajon shared data from its Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras with out-of-state law enforcement agencies, even after his office warned the City in writing that the practice violates state law. In January 2026, the Attorney General asked the court to immediately halt the sharing. El Cajon officials maintain the City is following the law, and the case remains pending.

According to local news reporting, El Cajon has about 100 Flock cameras installed throughout the city. Records from Flock’s own transparency portal show more than 600 agencies have access to El Cajon’s license plate data, including police departments in more than 20 states.

“Every time you drive down Main Street or Fletcher Parkway, a camera records where you were and when. California law says that information must stay in California, not shared with federal law enforcement, immigration authorities, or out-of-state police,” said San Diego civil rights attorney Tim Scott, founding partner of McKenzie Scott PC.

Who May Qualify for an El Cajon Flock Camera Claim?

Flock cameras run 24 hours a day and photograph every passing vehicle, recording the plate number, vehicle details, date, time, and location. Drivers receive no notice. McKenzie Scott PC especially wants to hear from:

• El Cajon residents who drive in the city, including neighborhoods such as Fletcher Hills and Granite Hills
• Commuters who work or attend school in El Cajon
• Shoppers and visitors who shop, dine, attend services, see doctors, or visit family in El Cajon
• Drivers on major El Cajon streets, including Main Street, Broadway, Fletcher Parkway, Magnolia Avenue, and Second Street
• East County residents of Santee, La Mesa, Lakeside, Rancho San Diego, and Alpine who drive through El Cajon

You do not need to know which Flock camera captured your vehicle, or prove your data was shared, before contacting the firm. Consultations are confidential, and anyone may speak with a lawyer regardless of background or immigration status.

What Does California Law Say About Flock License Plate Data?

California’s ALPR law, Civil Code sections 1798.90.5 through 1798.90.55 (originally enacted as SB 34 in 2015), allows public agencies to share license plate reader data only with other California public agencies. The law also gives people harmed by a violation the right to file a civil lawsuit. Under Civil Code section 1798.90.54, a court may award actual and liquidated damages, punitive damages for willful or reckless violations, attorney’s fees and costs, and orders requiring the unlawful practice to stop.

The Attorney General’s lawsuit asks the court to declare El Cajon’s data sharing via Flock camera unlawful and order it to stop. It does not seek compensation for individual residents or drivers. A private claim may seek money damages for the people whose data was shared.

Why Claims May Target Both the City of El Cajon and Flock Safety

The City of El Cajon operates the Flock cameras and, according to the Attorney General, continued sharing data with out-of-state agencies after repeated warnings. Flock Safety builds, hosts, and manages the camera network and the national data-sharing platform that makes out-of-state access possible. Holding both accountable may give affected drivers the best chance to stop the sharing and recover compensation.

Time Is Limited

Lawsuits and government claims are often governed by strict timelines and statutes of limitations. Drivers who wait could lose the right to recover. McKenzie Scott PC encourages anyone who drove through El Cajon in the past six months to call (619) 794-0451 or request a free case review as soon as possible.

A Civil Rights and Police Misconduct Firm That Sues the Government

McKenzie Scott PC represents people whose constitutional and civil rights have been violated by government agencies, law enforcement, and corporations. The firm’s civil rights, police misconduct, and jail injury practice has produced results against government entities that include:

• An $85 million civil rights verdict (at the time, the largest-ever police-involved wrongful death damages award)
• A $16 million in-custody jail death settlement, the largest wrongful-death settlement ever against San Diego County
• A $1 million police-shooting death settlement that was the largest payment of its kind in National City’s history

Founding partners Michele McKenzie and Tim Scott are Stanford Law School graduates backed by a full team of trial attorneys. Michele McKenzie spent nearly 20 years at Federal Defenders of San Diego. The firm’s attorneys have been selected to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Learn more about the firm’s featured cases and media coverage. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

El Cajon Flock Camera Lawsuit: Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Flock camera class action lawsuit in El Cajon?

California’s Attorney General has sued the City of El Cajon over its sharing of Flock license plate data, and private class actions have been filed against Flock Safety in California. McKenzie Scott PC is investigating claims against both the City of El Cajon and Flock Safety on behalf of affected drivers.

Who is eligible to file a claim?

Anyone who drove a vehicle in El Cajon while its Flock cameras were active may be eligible, including residents, commuters, shoppers, and visitors. Drivers who used El Cajon roads in the past six months should act promptly because of short government claim deadlines.

What compensation may be available?

California Civil Code section 1798.90.54 allows a court to award actual and liquidated damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and court orders stopping unlawful data sharing. Every case is different, and no outcome can be guaranteed.

How much does it cost to talk to a lawyer?

Case reviews are free and confidential. McKenzie Scott PC charges no fees unless the firm recovers compensation for you. Call (619) 794-0451 or start your free case review online.
Information about the El Cajon Flock camera investigation is also available in Spanish and Armenian.

About McKenzie Scott PC

McKenzie Scott PC is a San Diego civil rights law firm focused on civil rights, police misconduct, criminal defense, jail deaths, and personal injury. Led by Stanford-trained trial lawyers Michele McKenzie and Tim Scott, the firm holds government agencies, law enforcement, and corporations accountable when they violate people’s rights. The firm is located at 1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92101, and serves clients throughout San Diego County and East County. To schedule a free case evaluation, call (619) 794-0451 or visit mckenziescott.com/contact.

Sources

• California Attorney General: Bonta Sues El Cajon for Illegally Sharing License Plate Data (Oct. 3, 2025)
• California Attorney General: Bonta Continues Legal Challenge Against El Cajon (Jan. 21, 2026)
• California Civil Code sections 1798.90.5 through 1798.90.55; California Government Code section 911.2

Attorney Advertising. This press release is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Contacting McKenzie Scott PC does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. McKenzie Scott PC, 1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92101.