The city of Hutto, Texas, will no longer use automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. The Hutto City Council voted unanimously on September 18 to discontinue the police department's use of 10 Flock Safety cameras. Drivers in Hutto will no longer have their vehicle movements logged by these surveillance cameras. Community Impact reported that the cameras were already taken down before the vote.
What changes for drivers in Hutto?
For drivers within Hutto, this decision means that the 10 previously deployed Flock Safety ALPRs will no longer capture images of vehicles or log license plate information. This reduces the amount of vehicle movement data collected and stored by local law enforcement. FlockDetour's map at /map will reflect this change for Hutto.
Hutto Police Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough stated that the department had already removed the cameras prior to the council's vote. Concerns cited by city staff included:
- Partner agencies accessing data from the system not being bound by Hutto Police Department's data policies.
- Questions arising from developments in artificial intelligence technology.
Chief Yarbrough acknowledged the value of the cameras as an investigative tool but noted that the department could function without them. He stated that investigators would use other resources and methods to solve cases and protect the community. He added, "The difference is, it may make the investigatory efforts a bit more cumbersome."
Are other cities in the area removing ALPRs?
Yes, Hutto's decision follows a pattern of other nearby cities reconsidering their use of ALPR technology.
In recent weeks, several other Texas cities have also ended or opted not to renew their contracts for Flock Safety cameras:
- Pflugerville: Voted not to renew its Flock contract.
- Bastrop: Ended its Flock contract and prohibited future surveillance deals.
- Liberty Hill: Removed its Flock cameras.
- Leander: Discontinued Flock services.
These actions indicate a growing discussion among local governments about the use of ALPRs and data privacy. Drivers interested in learning more about how ALPRs work can visit /learn.