SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — San Antonio City Council is approving a contract for a new automatic license plate reader-style camera system intended to improve traffic management at intersections.
Cost: About $2.8 million through September 2028.
Purpose: Detect vehicles at intersections so traffic signals can be adjusted to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion and vehicle emissions.
No vehicle data collection: City officials said the cameras will not record vehicles or collect vehicle information or data.
Not Flock: The system is separate from Flock cameras, which have generated controversy in San Antonio.
Installation/maintenance: The city’s Public Works Department will oversee the system.
Funding: Money comes from the city’s 2026 General Fund.
Possible extension: The city can renew the contract for two additional years for an estimated $561,000.
Deployment: Cameras are expected to be installed at intersections throughout San Antonio.
Bottom line: Despite the “automatic license plate reader” terminology, the city says this particular system is being deployed as a traffic-signal management tool, not a law-enforcement surveillance system. The key issue to watch will be whether the system actually avoids storing or transmitting identifiable vehicle data as officials have stated.
Stay tuned to 500 KTSA and FM 107.1 for the latest in this developing story.
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