TEXAS — A Texas Tribune investigation revealed the state spent over $30 million on Flock cameras. Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris stated that state agency funds cannot be used for Flock cameras.

Lawmakers stated there had been no discussion of using the insurance fee money for Flock cameras before the 2023 law passed unanimously in the House and Senate. Representative Jeff Leach, the bill's author, and State Senator Carol Alvarado said surveillance cameras were never discussed when the bill was considered.

The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority awarded no fewer than 95 grants to help law enforcement agencies purchase and maintain about 2,000 Flock cameras. The authority funneled $50.8 million into 234 grants for police departments.

Agency grants to police departments ranged from $7,000 for two Flock cameras in Bellmead to almost $1.7 million for 201 cameras in Dallas. City networks in Laredo and El Paso, consisting of 165 and 150 cameras respectively, were entirely subsidized by the grants.

Flock cameras use artificial intelligence to track and store data on vehicle characteristics including make, model, color, bumper stickers, and dents. DeFlock, an anti-surveillance watchdog, has identified about 13,000 Flock cameras in Texas.

Harris County leads Texas with 3,546 community-mapped cameras, followed by Dallas County with 1,334, Tarrant County with 949, Collin County with 603, Fort Bend County with 596, Denton County with 534, Bexar County with 433, Travis County with 430, Montgomery County with 271, and Williamson County with 240. Flock officials say about 7,000 law enforcement agencies use a total of 120,000 cameras and other surveillance products nationally.

At least six police officers in Texas have been placed on leave or criminally charged for misusing Flock systems. A Lufkin police officer is facing 100 counts of misusing public information for allegedly using Flock cameras to surveil 11 people for more than a year.

Timeline

Funding for the cameras came from a 2023 law that added a $1 fee to Texas auto insurance policies to combat catalytic converter theft. In August 2023, Miguel Rodriguez, chair of the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, said he hoped to use proceeds from the fee increase to cover the entire state with cameras.

In December 2023, a Flock spokesperson told the vehicle authority's board there were about 7,500 cameras in the state. Republican U.S. Representative Keith Self proposed legislation in July 2026 to require federal agencies to obtain warrants before accessing Flock camera data.

In early August 2026, the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority approved another $3 million to help the Department of Public Safety install 583 more cameras along Texas tollways over the next year. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered all state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras on August 27, 2026.

On August 28, 2026, Governor Abbott described a crackdown happening across Texas as cities and counties have begun canceling contracts with Flock Safety.

What's New

Additional details show Governor Abbott described a crackdown happening across Texas as cities and counties have begun canceling contracts with Flock Safety.

Abbott stated Flock cameras are being reduced dramatically and will be required to be used responsibly if used at all.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the scale of Flock camera deployment. The Texas Tribune investigation reports the Department of Public Safety is installing almost 1,200 Flock cameras under a three-year, $15.9 million contract with the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.

Why It Matters

The order halts state spending on a surveillance network that has expanded rapidly since 2023. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority helped install at least 3,200 cameras, while an anti-surveillance watchdog identifies about 13,000 units in Texas. The funding source, a $1 auto insurance fee, raised an estimated $81 million, but lawmakers stated the fee was intended for catalytic converter theft prevention, not broad surveillance.

The pause follows allegations of misuse, including at least six officers facing charges or leave. The technology has drawn scrutiny regarding Fourth Amendment rights due to the volume of data collected. The decision impacts ongoing contracts, including a $3 million approval for tollway cameras in early August, and leaves local jurisdictions to adjust their own agreements with Flock Safety.