Automated license plate readers, known as Flock cameras, are increasingly being deployed by police departments throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Tarrant County, where at least 648 cameras have been identified. These devices capture images of license plates and gather information about vehicles, such as their make, model, and color, along with features like bike racks or trailers to help law enforcement differentiate between them.
Flock Safety, the company that developed this technology, states that the cameras focus exclusively on vehicles and do not collect information about individuals inside them. They do not use facial recognition and are not designed for speed detection or issuing traffic tickets.
The data collected is retained for a maximum of 30 days before being automatically deleted, with access restricted to police departments that control search permissions.
As the presence of these cameras grows, Texas drivers should remain informed about their capabilities and the associated privacy and data retention policies. Fort Worth is about 46 miles southwest of Prosper.
