EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 El Paso City Council is again weighing whether and how the city can use fixed license plate reader technology after the city\u2019s Flock cameras were decommissioned.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
RELATED: El Paso orders decommissioned Flock cameras removed within 60 days, blocks new ALPR deals<\/a><\/p>\n The proposed limit would not apply to handheld or vehicle-mounted readers, or systems used for parking, access control or toll collection.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAnything to bring back that technology, either by Flock or by a different provider, would have to come through approval of the city council,\u201d Canales said.<\/p>\n The discussion follows last month\u2019s vote after police halted the use of Flock cameras following a state funding freeze. <\/p>\n City Council voted unanimously to remove the cameras within 60 days and directed staff to return with the resolution now under consideration.<\/p>\n The debate has shifted since March, when council voted 6-2 to keep the Flock cameras.<\/p>\n After last month\u2019s vote, El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas said losing the technology will slow investigations.<\/p>\n \u201cHave somebody who is potentially still in the community that had committed a capital murder,\u201d Pacillas said. <\/p>\n \u201cSo it’s going to take more time for us to be able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n The City Council meeting is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. today.<\/p>\n RELATED: City council votes to keep AI-powered Flock license plate cameras as contract nears end<\/a><\/p>\n