The Carrollton City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday evening on whether to renew a contract with Flock Safety covering 82 automated license plate reader cameras operating throughout the city.
The vote is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Carrollton City Hall. The agreement is one of four contracts the city currently maintains for Flock technology, according to Fox 4 KDFW.
The cameras capture license plate and vehicle information and can send police real-time alerts when a vehicle associated with a criminal investigation or other law enforcement database is detected. Supporters say the technology has helped investigators locate suspects, stolen vehicles and vehicles connected to reported crimes.
The system has also drawn opposition over privacy, data retention and the potential for misuse.
Police Point to Flock Investigative Results
Carrollton police have highlighted several cases in which they used Flock data during investigations.
According to the department’s featured success stories, investigators used Flock data in 2026 to establish a timeline in a murder investigation and identify vehicles involved in aggravated assaults, a hit-and-run involving a cyclist and a cargo theft case.
In one road-rage investigation involving a stabbing, police said a Flock inquiry identified the suspect vehicle and license plate, leading to an arrest the same day. In another shooting investigation, officers used a partial plate and subsequent Flock alerts to track the suspect vehicle’s movements and locate suspects.
Police also reported using Flock data to identify a vehicle involved in a burglary and credit card abuse investigation.
The Carrollton Police Department said the system is intended for legitimate law enforcement purposes, access to the data is restricted, and the department is committed to responsible and transparent use of the technology.
Camera Network Tracks Millions of Plate Reads
Carrollton’s public Flock data shows 67 license plate reader cameras currently operating in the network, with more than 1.19 million unique plate reads recorded during the most recent 30-day period listed by the city.
The system recorded 1,574 camera alerts during that period. The largest categories included protection orders, sex offenders, stolen plates, violent persons, and warrants.
The city’s data also shows 891 searches during the period, and 14,206 hotlist hits from sources including the National Crime Information Center and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Amber Alerts.
Flock data is retained for 30 days, according to the city’s information. The data can be searched by offense categories including wanted persons, stolen vehicles, theft, drugs, and fleeing or evading police.
Privacy Advocates Raise Concerns
Opponents argue that automated license plate readers create a detailed record of where vehicles travel, raising concerns about privacy and constitutional protections.
Critics also have questioned how information collected by the cameras is shared, how long it is retained and what safeguards are in place to prevent improper searches.
The concerns come as communities across Texas and the country reconsider their use of Flock technology. Wylie and Pflugerville recently ended their contracts, while Dallas canceled a contract covering 321 cameras after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to pause funding for the systems. More than 300 Flock cameras remain in operation in Dallas, The Dallas Express reported.
Flock has defended its technology as a public safety tool and said it supports privacy, transparency, and accountability safeguards. The company has also introduced proactive auditing intended to identify unusual search activity.
Carrollton Contracts Face Public Scrutiny
The Carrollton contracts have become a focus of local debate over both surveillance and costs.
Critics of the system contend that taxpayers are paying for technology that can monitor vehicle movements throughout the city. They have called for greater transparency regarding searches and data sharing, as well as audits of how the information is accessed.
Opponents have also questioned the city’s reliance on grants to offset some of the cost of its Flock agreements and warned that expenses could increase if outside funding is not renewed.
Supporters, including law enforcement and some business advocates, have pointed to the investigative cases in which Flock data helped identify vehicles and suspects.
The debate reflects a broader discussion in North Texas over how automated license plate readers should be used and what restrictions should govern the data they collect.
Council Vote Set for Tuesday Night
The City Council is expected to hear public testimony before deciding whether to renew the 82-camera agreement.
The vote comes as other Texas communities reconsider their Flock contracts and as law enforcement agencies continue to cite the technology as an investigative resource. Dallas officials, for example, recently maintained funding for more than 300 Flock cameras after a proposal to eliminate the city’s remaining funding failed.
Carrollton residents and other members of the public can attend the council meeting at City Hall as the council considers the contract.
Provided by Dallas Express
