Overview
- The Texas comptroller signed the executive order Tuesday, prohibiting the use of future grants he administers to obligate or spend money on automated license-plate readers, related cameras, sensors, software, subscriptions, or data platforms.
- The order defines prohibited equipment as any system that converts license-plate images into computer-readable data and explicitly names providers such as Flock Safety, Motorola Solutions, and Axon.
- The ban covers only state grant money and does not stop cities, counties, or federal programs from buying or keeping ALPR systems with their own funding.
- Multiple Texas cities have already ended or declined to renew contracts with Flock, the company has acknowledged major layoffs, and local records showed outside agencies have queried municipal Flock data.
- The move follows reporting and technical research that found devices can store images, run people-detection software, expose access keys, and document officer misuse, and it comes as federal and state lawmakers weigh audits, retention limits, and stricter rules for cross-jurisdictional searches.