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3w ago

Harris County Renews Contract for Flock License-Plate Cameras

The vote preserves sheriff’s access to a 480-camera network while critics say published access rules and outside oversight remain inadequate.

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Political tensions flared between Harris County’s elected leaders during a discussion about renewing a contract with Flock Safety, a public safety technology company whose license plate-reading cameras are routinely used by local law enforcement.

Overview

  • County commissioners voted Thursday to extend the contract with Flock Safety through June 2027 at a cost just under $869,000.
  • The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says it can view feeds from about 480 Flock cameras and credited the system with helping arrest suspects in a stolen-car case and locate two kidnapped children.
  • Civil-rights advocates and some residents told commissioners the sheriff’s office could not produce written protocols that clearly define lawful versus improper searches and warned of risks from cross-jurisdiction queries.
  • Flock and local officials say local agencies own the data, Flock is barred from selling it, only a few company staff have maintenance access, and plate data is typically deleted after about 30 days.
  • The vote underscores a national patchwork of responses to Flock technology as some cities pause or limit contracts and others expand use, and it leaves oversight, published policies, and possible contract amendments as the next issues to watch.