Howe's license plate cameras would be switched off now rather than left running until the contract expires, under a resolution the City Council takes up Tuesday.
Resolution 2026-0008 directs the city administrator not to renew or extend Howe's master services agreement with Flock Group Inc., which the city signed on or about March 21, 2025, for automated license plate recognition cameras and software. It also tells the administrator to remove the existing cameras or make them inoperable, and requires council approval before any new plate-reader contract, renewal or amendment is signed.
City officials said in October that Howe would not renew the Flock contract because residents did not want the cameras, KTEN reported at the time. The resolution on Tuesday's agenda would put that decision in writing and go further by shutting the cameras down ahead of the renewal date.
Brought by a council member
City Administrator Monte Walker's memo in the meeting packet says Councilman Billie Ingram submitted the resolution to give formal notice that Howe will not renew when the agreement comes up in March. The city attorney reviewed the wording. "Flock cameras have become a political hot discussion, therefore, city staff has no opinion," Walker wrote.
Sherman's council voted 7-0 in October to remove that city's 11 Flock cameras. Councilman Clay Barnett told KXII at the time that he disliked "taking a tool out of their toolbelt" from police, but cited concerns about what happens to the data once it leaves the city.
Lawmakers in Austin are taking up the issue as well. According to The Texas Tribune, Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, filed legislation Monday that would stop the state's Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority from giving grants for roadside plate readers, and three more camera bills have been filed since bill filing opened.
One by Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, would leave the cameras in place but make officers get a warrant first and limit searches to violent-crime cases.
