Texas halts new permits for automated license-plate cameras on state roads

Texas officials confirmed that the state will no longer issue permits for new Flock automated license-plate reader cameras on its highways, acting on Governor Greg Abbott’s instruction. Existing installations—roughly 900 cameras managed by the Department of Public Safety—will stay operational, and any approved but not yet installed agreements are also frozen. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority reports that it has assisted state and local agencies in deploying more than 3,200 Flock cameras since 2023, contributing to a total of over 13,000 devices across Texas as of August, though some have been removed after public backlash.

In late August, Abbott ordered a stop to state funding for the cameras, noting that most were purchased by municipalities with federal money and must be used responsibly. Critics argue the cameras capture every vehicle’s license plate, storing data for seven days, raising privacy and constitutional concerns. Federal officials, including FBI director Kash Patel, defended the technology’s role in solving crimes such as child-predator cases, stressing limited, case-by-case access to footage.