The Laredo City Council voted 7-2 on Monday night to place a question before voters regarding the future of the city’s Flock camera network. The council will ask residents whether they support dedicating $1 million each year to keep 165 surveillance devices operating within city limits after state funding was halted.
Mayor Victor Treviño stated that the circumstances surrounding the cameras had shifted due to the pause in state money. He argued that if local taxpayers must cover the entire cost of the system, the 272,000 residents should have a say in the matter. The vote sets a nonbinding referendum for May, effectively delaying a final decision on the technology.
The funding block, initiated by Gov. Greg Abbott in late August, has forced numerous municipalities across Texas to reassess their use of Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers. At least 14 cities and counties have disconnected more than 900 devices since the state rescinded its financial support.
Larger jurisdictions like Houston and Dallas kept parts of their networks running while shutting down grant-funded units, whereas Plano, Robinson, and Kendall County terminated their contracts entirely.
Local law enforcement agencies cite crime reduction as a primary benefit of the technology, which compiles data on license plates, vehicle makes, models, and physical characteristics. Police officials argue the system allows them to identify suspects and locate missing persons more effectively than traditional policing methods.
College Station Police Chief Billy Couch noted during a recent council meeting that the cost of hiring enough officers to replicate the system’s capabilities would be prohibitive.
Conversely, privacy advocates warn that the widespread scanning of vehicles creates a database accessible by law enforcement nationwide, raising concerns about potential abuse and the creation of a surveillance state. Critics point to instances where police have conducted improper searches using these databases.
