ALPR News
License plate reader news from Cedar Park, Central Texas and across the country, newest first, each with its source.
Last updated October 15, 2026
Cedar Park council holds a special meeting on license plate readers
The City Council met in a special session with one business item: a discussion-only presentation on automated license plate readers by the Cedar Park Police Department, followed by public comments. No action was taken on the city's Flock contract.
A 30-day public comment period followed. It officially begins Wednesday, October 21, through a short form on the city website; comments go to city staff and will all be reviewed at the end of the 30 days, before the council votes.
Comptroller bars his office's grants from paying for plate readers
Comptroller Don Huffines signed an executive order barring grant money from his office from being used to buy license plate reader systems or to sign, extend or renew contracts for them, citing the Fourth Amendment. Cities can still pay with local money.
Flock to cut about 18% of its staff
Flock plans to eliminate roughly 270 jobs after a voluntary buyout program, Reuters reported, as cities across the country cancel or pause contracts.
Henrico County ends its Flock contract early
The Richmond-area county terminated its Flock agreement weeks before it was due to expire, citing privacy concerns.
Federal judge: warrantless Flock search violated the Fourth Amendment
In United States v. Kyle, Judge Sara Hill suppressed evidence after a deputy searched Flock's database for a driver's month-long travel history without a warrant. It is reported to be the first federal ruling of its kind. Flock expects an appeal.
Hutto permanently ends police use of Flock
Police had already taken the cameras offline after an internal review. The council made it permanent, noting that partner agencies with access to the data aren't bound by Hutto's rules for it.
Liberty Hill votes 7–0 to end Flock and swear off mass surveillance
Two weeks after a packed council meeting on the cameras, Liberty Hill's council voted unanimously to end its Flock program and not to use technology for mass surveillance in the future. Staff removed every camera on September 15.
Bastrop terminates Flock and bars similar contracts
A week after voting to cover all 12 city cameras, Bastrop's council unanimously ended its Flock contract and prohibited new or replacement contracts for vehicle-surveillance systems that collect or share location data. Mayor Ishmael Harris had said that public trust, not just public safety, is the council's responsibility.
Leander shuts down its Flock cameras
After a hearing that ran past midnight, with dozens of residents speaking, Leander's council directed staff to stop using its Flock cameras. The city has since confirmed every camera is down and police no longer use Flock cameras or data.
Gov. Abbott cuts off state money for Flock cameras
Abbott ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras, the same day the Texas Tribune reported that a state authority had put at least $30 million into more than 3,200 cameras since 2023, paid for by a $1 fee on every Texas auto insurance policy.
Sen. Hawley opens an investigation into Flock
The Missouri Republican, who chairs a Senate Judiciary subcommittee, demanded misuse figures and data-security records from Flock's CEO, citing officers who used the network to track ex-partners and family members.
Pflugerville shuts off its cameras after finding hundreds of unapproved users
A resident's records request showed that while about 80 outside agencies were approved to search Pflugerville's Flock data, more than 450 had actually done so. The city covered all 28 cameras and the council declined to renew.
Dallas suburb Wylie votes 7–0 to end its Flock contract
The mayor said the cameras helped solve cases but that the data was being stored and shared with too many other departments. A resident petition had passed 700 signatures.
WIRED reconstructs Flock's AI search tool from its own code
Reporters pieced together OS Investigate, an AI system Flock says is in testing with a few agencies. The code describes searches that need no plate or name: an officer gives a place, a time window and a behavior, and gets back the drivers who fit. Flock did not dispute the capabilities.
Flock cuts its default data retention to 7 days, for new customers
Flock lowered its default retention from 30 days to 7, saying over 90% of searches happen within a week. Existing customers keep whatever retention their city set unless they opt in.
ACLU and EFF back the appeal in Schmidt v. Norfolk
Civil liberties groups filed a brief in the Fourth Circuit supporting residents challenging Norfolk's Flock network, after a federal judge ruled for the city in January. The appeal is a leading test of whether Carpenter applies to plate readers.
Cedar Park is on the list of agencies sharing Flock data with Texas DPS
KXAN obtained the list of agencies with Flock data-sharing agreements with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Cedar Park was on it, along with Round Rock and Hutto.
Several of these items were first compiled by DeFlock Leander.