Five North Texas police chiefs are standing behind automated license plate reader technology but are calling for stronger regulations to address growing privacy concerns and documented cases of misuse.
The police chiefs of Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Allen and Grand Prairie gathered for a roundtable discussion where they outlined both the public safety benefits of the surveillance technology and the need for stricter accountability measures.
Automated license plate readers, commonly known as ALPRs, use cameras to capture vehicle data as cars pass by. Law enforcement officials say the systems have proven critical in locating stolen vehicles, tracking down criminal suspects and finding missing children in a matter of minutes.
Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie García acknowledged that the technology has not always been used appropriately. He pointed to confirmed cases in Texas and across the country where officers accessed ALPR data improperly and said law enforcement must be transparent about those failures.
Grand Prairie Police Chief Daniel Scesney argued that public safety and privacy protection do not have to be in conflict. He expressed support for a dedicated state law that would impose criminal penalties on anyone who misuses ALPR systems.
The chiefs broadly agreed that the solution is not to eliminate the technology but to establish consistent departmental policies and statewide standards that govern how the data is collected, stored and accessed.
The role of Flock Safety, a private company that provides ALPR systems to many North Texas departments, was also part of the conversation. Chiefs said the company has tools in place to help prevent unauthorized use and improve transparency.
Following the roundtable, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux met privately with Flock CEO Garrett Langley to discuss data policies, auditing procedures and accountability safeguards. As a result of those discussions, Flock agreed to keep 321 state-grant-funded cameras operating in Dallas for an additional 90 days while negotiations continue.
The debate over ALPR technology reflects a broader tension playing out in communities across Texas as residents and lawmakers weigh the investigative value of surveillance tools against concerns over how personal data is being used and who has access to it.