The automatic license plate reader (ALPR) program in Austin will be terminated at the end of the month, as City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced no plans for a vote to renew the initiative.
This decision follows objections voiced by community members and city leaders during a recent City Council work session that featured leaders from the Austin Police Department (APD).
Broadnax expressed his appreciation for the APD’s presentation but acknowledged that the City Council has lingering concerns regarding data privacy and the implications of continuous surveillance on vulnerable populations.
“While I appreciate the Austin Police Department’s thorough presentation … and have confidence that APD can continue to use this tool in a responsible way focused on keeping Austinites safe, I am also sensitive to community concerns and outstanding questions from members of the City Council,” he stated in an email addressed to the council and Mayor Kirk Watson.
In 2023, the City Council authorized a pilot program allowing the APD to implement license plate scanners intended to combat crime, primarily focusing on identifying stolen vehicles.
The city deployed 40 cameras throughout Austin, especially in downtown areas, and outfitted nearly 500 police vehicles with additional cameras to aid in capturing criminals.
Contracted with firms such as Flock Safety and Axon, the program aimed at enhancing public safety has, however, sparked significant controversy.
Residents have raised alarms regarding how data collected is safeguarded and the potential risks it poses to immigrant communities and individuals seeking medical care that may be restricted by state laws.
Critics highlighted the possibility that the information gathered could be stored and shared with external agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Texas Attorney General’s office.
Council Member Mike Siegel voiced serious concerns over the contract with Flock, asserting that it fails to protect vulnerable communities from surveillance practices that disproportionately affect them, especially in light of escalating immigration enforcement actions.
“Austin should not be participating in Trump’s mass surveillance programs,” Siegel remarked, referring to verified information indicating that ICE has been granted access to the databases utilized within the program.
He emphasized that such data can potentially be misused against individuals seeking reproductive healthcare or gender-affirming care, linking the ALPR initiative to broader issues of civil liberties.
In defense of the program, Assistant Police Chief Sheldon Askew stated that the ALPR system significantly aids the department, particularly considering its current staffing shortfall of approximately 300 officers.
“The data provided by this technology has helped us make arrests and bring justice to crime victims across the city,” said Askew.
A recent audit revealed that the ALPR yielded 75 million scans, which culminated in 165 arrests and 133 prosecutions, alongside the recovery of one missing person.
Although the APD maintains that the data is not being used for any immigration-related searches or other unauthorized purposes, concerns remain.
The audit did reveal discrepancies, noting that 10%-20% of the license plate searches lacked a clear justification or case number—violating the city’s resolution regarding the use of the technology.
To address this, Askew mentioned that police supervisors have been advised to ensure officer compliance with the intended usage of the ALPR system.
During the work session, Chief Lisa Davis emphasized her understanding of the gravity of the situation, stating that there exists a balanced way to use technology to tackle violent crime without overstepping privacy boundaries.
“I take this very seriously,” Davis said.
“It is vital to have a program in place that allows us to address crime while respecting the rights and privacy of our residents.”
If the city decides to revisit the ALPR program in the future, Davis expressed openness to exploring alternatives to Flock as the service provider.
City officials expect the matter to resurface in approximately five to six months, during which they will review revised contract language, the potential costs associated with the upcoming budget, and how to effectively support the police department in mitigating gaps without reliance on the ALPR program.
The issue of license plate reader programs isn’t unique to Austin, as nearby San Marcos encountered similar challenges, ultimately declining a proposal to expand its program with Flock after extensive public testimony.
As the automatic license plate reader program in Austin comes to a close, community dialogue on the balance between public safety and individual rights remains a significant and contentious issue.
image source from：https://www.kut.org/austin/2025-06-04/austin-tx-automatic-license-reader-program-police-data-privacy-flock
