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Resident urges council to review privately run 'Flock' cameras, citing privacy and safety concerns
Summary
A Tomball resident asked the council to place privately operated "Flock" cameras on a future agenda, saying the devices collect license-plate and driver data, may be sold to third parties, and raise cybersecurity and roadside-safety risks.
Robert Clay told the Tomball City Council that he and many neighbors only recently became aware of privately operated "Flock" cameras around town and that the installations raise privacy and safety concerns. "They're collecting data not only on you, but on your car, on your license plate," he said, and warned that the service is "a data collection service private owned and it sells your data to whoever's interested."
Clay also raised a crash-safety concern about camera poles being mounted directly in concrete rather than on breakaway bases required by TxDOT near easements; he said that mounting method could cause a pole to penetrate a vehicle instead of breaking away. He asked council to put the subject on a future agenda and offered to gather residents and information for a follow-up packet.
Council members thanked Clay for raising the issue and noted the item is not on the current agenda; staff did not announce immediate regulatory action but the comment was entered for future consideration. No formal response, staff report, or vote on the cameras occurred at this meeting.
