The Conroe City Council has approved funding for the city's Flock Safety camera program for 2027, a decision that follows a divided vote and public debate. The vote, held at a recent City Council meeting, means the automated license plate readers (ALPRs) will remain in operation, continuing a contract that began in 2019. Yahoo News reported on the council's discussion and vote.
For drivers in Conroe, this decision confirms the continued presence of Flock Safety cameras throughout the city. These cameras record license plate information, which police can access for specific law enforcement reasons. Understanding where these cameras are located can be helpful for drivers; visit our /map to see known ALPR locations.
Why did the Conroe City Council vote to keep the cameras?
Conroe Police Chief Jon Buckholtz advocated for the cameras, stating they are an effective tool for fighting crime. He noted that the police department has not received any complaints of misuse of the camera data over the past seven years. According to Buckholtz:
- Conroe has contracted with Flock since 2019.
- The city is one year into its current five-year contract.
- Funding for the cameras in 2027 is approximately $130,000.
- Over the past 30 days, cameras recorded about 894,000 unique plates, with investigators searching only 642.
Buckholtz also referenced a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruling from March, which affirmed that police use of Flock ALPR data does not violate the Fourth Amendment.
What were the concerns about continued use?
Council members David Hairel and Shana Arthur voted against the funding, citing concerns about privacy and civil liberties. Hairel characterized the Flock cameras as a “surveillance system that raises unresolved constitutional questions.” He argued that the continuous logging of every license plate citywide represents a different level of governmental power compared to traditional policing methods, requiring more scrutiny.
Arthur echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of protecting residents' civil liberties while supporting law enforcement. Both Hairel and Arthur had previously supported a proposal to pause funding and review the technology's use. They were the only two votes against the city's $389 million budget for 2027, which included the camera funding.
This vote follows a prior decision by the council to reject a proposal that would have allowed voters in November to decide on the continued use of the Flock system. The current contract for the cameras will continue as planned.