Texas has stopped issuing permits for Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers along state roads, following an order from Governor Greg Abbott. The pause, confirmed by the Texas Department of Transportation, affects new installations and agreements not yet completed, citing privacy concerns.
The decision by Texas to halt permits for Flock cameras, following similar actions in Florida and pressure from residents, signals a growing regulatory and public scrutiny of automated license plate reader technology due to privacy concerns, potentially impacting law enforcement's ability to track vehicles and solve crimes.
Texas has halted the issuance of permits for Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers along state roads, a move directed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) confirmed the pause on Thursday, stating it applies to new installations and agreements that have been approved but not yet put in place. TxDOT's role involves reviewing permits to ensure the safe installation of these devices on state-owned roadways, though the agency does not install them or access the data they collect.
The suspension follows Abbott's late August order to block state funding for Flock cameras, which came as the Texas Tribune was preparing to publish an investigation into a state agency that had directed at least $30 million to fund over 3,200 Flock cameras statewide. Privacy concerns have increasingly surrounded the use of these cameras, which compile license plate numbers and other vehicle data into searchable databases.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also ordered his state's transportation department to remove Flock cameras from state roads on August 31, citing concerns about creating a "surveillance state." Across Texas, hundreds of Flock cameras have reportedly been shut down following Abbott's funding freeze. Local governments and county commissions have also faced pressure from residents concerned about privacy, leading some to disconnect their cameras. Law enforcement agencies, however, defend the cameras as crucial tools for solving crimes, particularly vehicle theft, and for locating missing persons.