On Tuesday, voters in League City, a Houston-area suburb of about 120,000 people, will decide whether the police department should keep using 55 Flock cameras on public roads. The cameras collect data on passing vehicles, including license plate numbers, make, model, paint color and features such as dents and bumper stickers. League City is the first place in Texas to hold a vote on removing the cameras, according to The Texas Tribune.
The ballot item, Proposition A, is described as nonbinding. However, the City Council approved a resolution in mid-October that pledges to remove the cameras if voters reject them. Mayor Nick Long said that 72 hours after the vote is certified, the city would begin taking the cameras down. Long said he brought the question to voters because he saw residents on both sides of the issue. "There's passion on both sides of the issue," he said.
Police have described Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers as a powerful tool for solving crimes. Some residents have raised concerns about intrusive surveillance, and reports of officers misusing the data have added to the debate nationwide.