EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso City Council is again weighing whether and how the city can use fixed license plate reader technology after the city’s Flock cameras were decommissioned.
Council members are considering a resolution that would prevent the city manager from entering into, renewing or extending agreements for fixed license plate readers unless the City Council later approves it.
RELATED: El Paso orders decommissioned Flock cameras removed within 60 days, blocks new ALPR deals
The proposed limit would not apply to handheld or vehicle-mounted readers, or systems used for parking, access control or toll collection.
City Rep. Chris Canales, who represents Downtown and West El Paso, said any return of the technology would require council approval, regardless of the vendor.
“Anything to bring back that technology, either by Flock or by a different provider, would have to come through approval of the city council,” Canales said.
The discussion follows last month’s vote after police halted the use of Flock cameras following a state funding freeze.
City Council voted unanimously to remove the cameras within 60 days and directed staff to return with the resolution now under consideration.
The debate has shifted since March, when council voted 6-2 to keep the Flock cameras.
After last month’s vote, El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas said losing the technology will slow investigations.
“Have somebody who is potentially still in the community that had committed a capital murder,” Pacillas said.
“So it’s going to take more time for us to be able to do that.”
The City Council meeting is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. today.
RELATED: City council votes to keep AI-powered Flock license plate cameras as contract nears end
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