The council opted to delay the decision until it reviews the policy governing the cameras, focusing on data security and privacy concerns, which is likely to occur during a work session in June or earlier.
The gist
The resolution, if approved, would have amended the contract with Flock Group Inc. to add 19 LPR cameras, according to the City Council agenda.
“We already have operational cameras, so license plate recognition technology is currently underway and has been underway for several years—we’re just simply adding additional cameras,” SMPD Police Chief Stan Standridge said.
The agenda item listed multiple examples of how LPR cameras have been used in San Marcos investigations, including tracking vehicles and license plates involved in various criminal cases, such as sexual assault and murder.
Additionally, the agenda states that LPR cameras have been effective in aiding arrests and recovering stolen vehicles
Flock Safety’s LPR cameras function as a network of license plate readers that provide real-time alerts and captured images used only in active investigations or open incidents, according to the agenda documents. The cameras analyze vehicle license plates and other descriptive features, such as state recognition, vehicle type and color.
The cameras do not record video but instead capture still images of vehicles passing through their field of view. The agenda details that the cameras cannot track vehicles once they leave the camera’s range.
The City Council initially approved the use of LPR cameras and established a contract with Flock in 2022 for approximately $47,000, leading to the installation and operation of the first 14 cameras. In 2024, SMPD received two additional grants specifically for the purchase of more LPR cameras, which will bring the contract amount to $124,000, though $61,000 will be covered by the grant.
Explained
The postponement is related to the SMPD’s LPR policy, specifically touching on data retention and data sharing. According to Standridge, the policy was created on June 24, 2022, and edited on July 29, 2024.
The policy states, “ALPR capture data shall be purged after 30 days unless it is evidence or necessary for an ongoing case.”
Council member Amanda Rodriguez voiced concerns that the 30-day data retention is not appropriate and that though the policy may be the best standard in Texas, they are not the best standard nationwide.
“Specifically that 30-day storage, that’s actually considered the bottom tier—that’s not statutorily, that’s actually from Flock,” Rodriguez said. “There are other states and other cities who have actually readdressed that 30-day window to say ‘do we need that many if the person is not necessarily on a list worthy of our concern?'”
The agenda item explains that the 30-day retention ensures enough time for victims to come forward to report crimes and for police to search for any associated evidence.
