Hays County tables proposed expansion of Flock Safety license-plate readers after public opposition

Hays County Commissioners Court on July 29 tabled consideration of an amendment to expand its agreement with Flock Group Inc., the maker of Flock Safety automated license-plate readers, following extended public comment and debate over surveillance, immigration enforcement and public safety.

The item (G42) would have authorized “amendment number 2 order form between Hays County and Flock Group Inc., related to Flock Safety equipment approved by the commissioner’s court on 02/11/2025.” The sheriff told the court the county planned to pay for the additional equipment with FY25 rural law-enforcement grant funds. After public commenters, council members and county officials spoke, the court decided to table the item for further community discussion for about two weeks.

Why it matters: automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) photograph license plates and make them searchable; privacy advocates say that builds databases that can be queried later by many agencies, while law enforcement calls them an important investigative tool. The debate brought competing evidence and local examples: opponents cited…