New Surveillance Cameras Show Up on Dutchess County Roads

Drivers in Fishkill and Wappingers Falls are noticing more and more surveillance-type equipment popping up along roads across Dutchess County.

Pole-mounted Cameras in Dutchess County, NY

If you spend any time driving through Fishkill or Wappingers Falls, chances are you’ve spotted some of these pole-mounted devices appearing along busy roadways.

Recently, numerous drivers reported seeing devices similar to the one pictured above along Route 376 near Hudson Valley Regional Airport in Wappingers Falls and on Merritt Boulevard in Fishkill.

One driver told us they had no idea what the devices were and probably wouldn’t have noticed them if their GPS app, Waze, hadn’t warned them that a "speed camera" was nearby.

After spotting at least three of the devices during a drive across Dutchess County this week, I decided to look into what they actually are. As far as I can tell, they aren’t speed cameras, but they are recording information on every vehicle that passes by.

License Plate Readers in Wappingers Falls & Fishkill, NY

After doing an image search online, it appears the devices are “Flock” cameras used by law enforcement to identify license plates and vehicle characteristics, including make, color, vehicle type, and other unique features in real time.

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The cameras are used as a tool to help police track suspects and identify stolen vehicles.

Not New to the Area

The cameras aren’t exactly new to Dutchess County, although some of the recent placements might be. According to a social media post shared by Inside Scoop Fishkill, the “mysterious pole-mounted devices” were spotted in Fishkill at Walmart, Home Depot, Dutchess Community College, and even near town borders as far back as mid-2025.

There are various models of solar-powered, LTE-connected Flock cameras that can be used to track stolen vehicles, alert police to wanted individuals, and help identify suspects. According to the company’s website, the data collected is typically stored for 30 days.

Have you noticed more of these devices popping up in your neighborhood? Are you OK with law enforcement using this type of technology?

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