CBS Austin reports that the Liberty Hill City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to terminate its agreement with Flock Safety. The vote came amid concerns over how license plate reader data is gathered and shared. Liberty Hill is one of several Central Texas communities that have ended or limited their use of Flock cameras.
What did the Liberty Hill council vote to do?
The motion does three things, according to CBS Austin:
- Terminates the city's Flock agreement, so it is not renewed in October.
- Removes all cameras under the city's jurisdiction immediately.
- Bars the city from using technology in the future for mass surveillance. The motion goes beyond Flock Safety.
Mayor Pro Tem Diane Williams made the motion, and Council Member Tim Hennessy seconded it. Mayor Crystal Mancilla called the vote. Williams said she was concerned about misuse of the technology. She said the tool can help police, but that she feared the harm it permits "in the wrong hands."
Which other Texas cities have dropped Flock?
CBS Austin lists Bastrop, Leander, Manor and Pflugerville as cities that have ended or moved to end their use of Flock technology in recent weeks. Elgin police have paused their use of Flock data while they wait for direction from elected officials. Austin and San Marcos stopped using Flock cameras in 2025.
At the state level, the Texas Department of Public Safety says it will keep operating its existing Flock network but will not add more cameras. Gov. Greg Abbott has blocked state agencies from spending more money on the technology.
What changes for drivers in Liberty Hill?
Cameras under Liberty Hill's jurisdiction are set to be removed immediately under the motion. CBS Austin does not say how many cameras the city has or where they are.
Other cameras stay where they are. Texas DPS keeps its existing Flock network, and CBS Austin says nothing about cameras run by neighboring cities, the county, businesses or homeowners' associations. Check the camera map to see which cameras are mapped near you, or read how plate readers work for background on what these cameras record.
CBS Austin does not say when the removal will finish. The next date in the report is October, when the agreement would have come up for renewal.