Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the state's transportation department to stop issuing new permits for Flock cameras and other license plate readers along state roads. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said on Thursday that it had "suspended issuing approvals for Flock cameras or similar devices installed by third parties" along the state's rights-of-way, meaning public roadways. "TxDOT's role is to review permits to ensure license plate readers are installed correctly and safely along state-owned roadways," an agency spokesperson said, according to NewsNation.
"This suspension also includes agreements that are approved but not yet installed." It added: "TxDOT does not have access to the data collected from the license plate readers, and these cameras are placed at the request of law enforcement." The action came amid growing backlash against the technology. While police and supporters argue that the cameras can help solve crimes and boost security, opponents have raised privacy concerns and fears that they could be abused by police officers. Newsweek contacted Abbott's office and the TxDOT for comment by email outside of regular working hours.
Flock cameras are automatic number plate readers that capture images of moving vehicles and use software to record information including vehicle make, model, color, and distinguishing features. The cameras are often mounted on poles along roads and at intersections. The cameras are made by the public safety company Flock Safety, which says the devices help "law enforcement, businesses, and communities securely share vehicle evidence, uncover more leads, and solve more cases together." Other major manufacturers of ALPR cameras in the U.S. include Axon and Vigilant Solutions.
There are more than 13,500 ALPRs in 218 of Texas' 254 counties, according to estimates from the Texas Privacy Coalition, a grassroots advocacy group. Harris County, which includes Houston, has the highest number of community-mapped cameras at 3,546, according to the database. Dallas County is second with 1,334 cameras, followed by Tarrant County with 949 cameras.
Other leading counties include Collin County with 603; Fort Bend County with 596; Denton County with 534; Bexar County with 433; and Travis County with 430. In late August, Abbott ordered all Texas agencies to pause state funding for Flock cameras. "Almost all Flock cameras in Texas are used by cities, and those cities are increasingly canceling their contracts with Flock," Abbott's spokesman Andrew Mahaleris told Newsweek.
"To the extent that cities get any funding for those cameras, most of it comes from the federal government. To the extent any funding comes from Texas agencies, those agencies are clarifying that those funds cannot be used for Flock cameras." Speaking about the cameras in August, Abbott added: "What Texans deserve, they deserve clarity about how these cities and counties are using them. Citizens are concerned about their Fourth Amendment rights.
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