Pflugerville officials opted to delay a decision about whether to keep the city's Flock Safety cameras during an Aug. 11 City Council meeting.
What happened
Council decided not to vote on an agreement with Flock to extend the lease of automated license plate readers that would cost $87,500 per year.
“I understand that some council members have undertaken additional negotiation positions with the provider, so I do not believe we are in a position to act upon this item tonight,” Mayor Doug Weiss said.
Several members of the community spoke at the meeting opposing the contract.
“This is not simply about cameras,” Pflugerville resident Samuel Caswell said. It is about privacy; it is about government surveillance, accountability and the kind of community we want Pflugerville to be.”
Resident Samantha Bridwell said surveillance technology should only be used when there are strong safeguards, transparency and independent oversight.
“While I understand the importance of public safety, I also believe safety includes protecting our privacy, our civil liberties and trust between our community and local government,” Bridwell said. “Flock cameras collect and retain data on the movements of everyone, not just people suspected of crimes. While the technology may help solve several crimes, it also creates a database of where innocent residents travel throughout the city.”
The background
The Pflugerville Police Department has utilized Flock automated license plate reader cameras since 2022. According to the city, the cameras are located in key areas to capture images of vehicle license plates, and do not track people or use facial recognition. They are also not used for immigration enforcement or any other purpose outside of lawful public safety work, city documents state.
This technology helps officers identify vehicles involved in serious crimes, including burglaries, stolen vehicles, abductions, and violent offenses, according to the city.
What happens next
Weiss said he expects Council to discuss the item at their next meeting, which will be held Aug. 25.
