Texas Suspends Permits for Automated License Plate Readers

The Texas Department of Transportation suspended the issuance of permits for Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers along state roads on September 8. Acting under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, the agency paused all new approvals, including agreements that were previously approved but not yet installed. This action follows a late August order by Abbott that blocked state funding for the technology.

The suspension stems from rising security and privacy concerns, alongside reports that law enforcement officers used the systems for unauthorized searches and stalking. While the pause affects new third-party installations, it does not impact existing cameras, including more than 900 operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Similar restrictions have emerged in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the removal of such cameras to prevent the creation of a "surveillance state." Conversely, President Donald Trump has expressed support for the technology's utility in law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies continue to defend the systems as effective tools for locating missing persons and solving crimes.