Bastrop, Texas — The Bastrop City Council has voted to end its contract for automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. This decision, made on Tuesday, follows a unanimous vote last week to cover the existing cameras, according to Texas Scorecard reporting. For drivers in Bastrop, this means the city will no longer operate these particular surveillance cameras. The council also moved to restrict future agreements for similar technology.
What does this mean for drivers in Bastrop?
Drivers in Bastrop will find changes to the local surveillance landscape. The City Council's vote means:
- The city's contract for ALPR cameras is terminated.
- The existing camera system will be decommissioned.
- The city will not enter into new agreements for ALPR services or reactivate the current system without further City Council authorization.
Bastrop Mayor Ishmael Harris acknowledged the cameras had been helpful but cited concerns about privacy, data collection, and potential misuse of technology. "We’ve had evidence that it has helped us," Mayor Harris stated. "But then there’s also, you know, where there’s been a misuse of technology and the concerns of the privacy, the encroachment, the data collection and access to our personal information and how much control we really have over that."
Are other Texas cities removing ALPR cameras?
Yes, Bastrop joins a growing number of Texas localities that have recently taken action regarding ALPR cameras. Cities like El Paso, Elgin, and Wylie have either halted, cancelled, or declined to renew contracts for these systems. This trend follows a pause on state funding for ALPR cameras issued by Governor Greg Abbott in late August.
ALPR cameras work by using artificial intelligence to scan license plates and record vehicle details such as make, model, color, and any identifying features. Law enforcement can then access these databases, often without requiring a warrant, which has led to Fourth Amendment privacy concerns among some residents and civil liberties advocates. For more background on how these systems operate and their implications, drivers can visit our /learn page.
City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino submitted the resolution to decommission the camera system and terminate the contract. The council's unanimous vote supported this resolution, with Mayor Pro-Tem John Kirkland proposing language to ensure any future ALPR system would require explicit council authorization. Texas lawmakers are expected to discuss potential regulations for this technology in the upcoming legislative session.