What’s happening
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and Commissioner Walt Smith both had items at the Aug. 12 meeting related to contracts with security hardware company Flock Safety. Becerra’s item considered possible termination of all contracts with the ALPR provider, while Smith’s would approve a newly amended contract with Flock to purchase four new cameras.
Smith’s item was previously tabled during a July 29 meeting following similar pushback from community members. The Commissioners Court was set to take action on both Smith’s tabled item and the new item from Becerra on Aug. 12, but both court members agreed to postpone discussing the contracts until the next meeting Aug. 19.
The county will host an engagement opportunity Aug. 18 for community members to learn and provide feedback on the ALPRs.
- Aug. 18, 5:30-7 p.m.
- San Marcos Public Library, 625 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos
Flock Safety has come under fire for controversies regarding data sharing with agencies such as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and other misuse by enforcement agencies. At the July 29 meeting, Hays County Sheriff’s Office officials confirmed that the department does share information with law enforcement agencies if they request it.
Hays County Sheriff Anthony Hipolitio previously said the cameras would be beneficial in crime-solving operations, such as using the license plate tracking to find wanted individuals and enhancing public safety.
"This is 100% about public safety,” he said July 29. “It is 100% about keeping our constituents of Hays County as safe as they possibly can be.”
However, during public comment both July 29 and Aug. 12, community members voiced concern regarding the potential use by ICE to target immigrant communities, and the targeting and possible misuse of other marginalized groups.
“History tells us that when government has the power to watch everyone, those powers are often abused, especially against Black, brown, immigrant and low-income communities,” said Cyrus Gray on Aug. 12. Gray serves as a Mano Amiga re-entry adviser and was formerly wrongfully incarcerated.
“Surveillance does not address the root cause of crime, lack of affordable housing, mental health care, youth programs, job opportunities and community resources. Instead of investing taxpayer dollars in a system that tracks and monitors us, we should invest in our people,” he said.
Other community members said they are concerned with other data sharing concerns, privacy and surveillance concerns, and the lack of oversight Hays County would have over Flock, a private company.
Community members also said they want the court to approve redirecting funds from the Flock contract to other pools such as the public defender’s office.
In the previous July 29 meeting, commissioners Smith and Morgan Hammer supported the use of ALPRs for public safety.
“I think at the end of the day we care a lot about our community, and we care about everyone remaining safe,” she said. “In my opinion, if my 3-year-old daughter is picked up, I want you to use everything in your power to find where she is at.”
One more thing
Other Central Texas regions have seen the use of surveillance systems and subsequent community pushback, including San Marcos, Kyle and Austin.
However, Round Rock unanimously approved a new Flock Safety contract to have 40 additional cameras to its current 30-count fleet.
Hays County currently has five operating ALPRs and one pending ALPR across the region.
