El Paso City Council to debate removing Flock license plate reader cameras

EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso City Council is expected to discuss whether to remove controversial Flock automatic license plate reader cameras from around the city, following a recent halt in their use by El Paso police.

Two items are going before council that could change what Flock cameras look like in the city.

The discussion comes after El Paso police halted use of the state-funded cameras earlier this month, after Gov. Greg Abbott directed that state funding not be used for the technology.

According to a report from The Texas Tribune, the city has 150 Flock cameras throughout El Paso, all funded through the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, a state-funded agency.

Now, the council is considering taking additional steps.

One item would direct the city manager to ensure all Flock cameras on city property are removed within 60 days, regardless of who owns them.

A second item would stop the city from entering into any new contract for similar license plate readers — whether through Flock or another company — unless City Council approves it.

Rep. Josh Acevedo, who represents Central and Northeast El Paso, cited privacy concerns and said he wants the cameras removed.

“There are a lot of privacy concerns with them, so we need to make sure that we remove them,” Acevedo said.

“I think the ideal thing is that Flock removes them, and if not, then we’ll probably have to get a contractor to work on removing these within the next two months.”

Acevedo said that even if council does not make a decision today, the city will still pursue removal.

“But then if they don’t go through it, then that’s when we have other ways of saying we are gonna remove them. And then charge them,” he said.

Agenda documents show the cost of removing the cameras is still being determined by city staff.

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