EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
Two items are going before council that could change what Flock cameras look like in the city. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
RELATED: El Paso City Council to vote Tuesday on removing Flock cameras<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Now, the council is considering taking additional steps. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n A second item would stop the city from entering into any new contract for similar license plate readers \u2014 whether through Flock or another company \u2014 unless City Council approves it.<\/p>\n Rep. Josh Acevedo, who represents Central and Northeast El Paso, cited privacy concerns and said he wants the cameras removed.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a lot of privacy concerns with them, so we need to make sure that we remove them,\u201d Acevedo said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the ideal thing is that Flock removes them, and if not, then we\u2019ll probably have to get a contractor to work on removing these within the next two months.\u201d<\/p>\n Acevedo said that even if council does not make a decision today, the city will still pursue removal.<\/p>\n \u201cBut 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Agenda documents show the cost of removing the cameras is still being determined by city staff.<\/p>\n RELATED: <\/a>EPPD halts Flock camera use; questions remain over data<\/a><\/p>\n