Hays County Joins Trend of Communities Reevaluating Flock Cameras

Hays County Faces Decision on License Plate Reader Programs

Hays County is now part of a growing trend in Central Texas where communities are reevaluating their use of automatic license plate reader (LPR) programs. This comes as cities like San Marcos and Austin have already taken steps to either limit or eliminate these systems due to concerns over data privacy.

In San Marcos, a recent vote rejected the expansion of LPR technology, highlighting the public's unease with how personal data might be collected and used. Similarly, the city of Austin has decided to scrap its program altogether. Now, Hays County is following a similar path, with county commissioners delaying a vote on the issue. The decision will be made two weeks from now, allowing for further discussion and consideration.

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra has been vocal in his opposition to the use of LPRs. He expressed hope that the contract would be terminated entirely, stating, “My hope is that we kill the contract altogether, pull it from the roots.” His concerns center around the potential for these systems to become tools of broader surveillance, something he believes the community does not support.

“I think it's a real concern for folks that don’t want big brother, big government coming their way and harassing them and knowing their whereabouts,” Becerra said.

On the other side, Hays County Sheriff Anthony Hipolito defends the use of LPRs, emphasizing that the technology is primarily used for law enforcement purposes such as identifying stolen vehicles or tracking dangerous individuals. “We’re not talking about AI facial recognition. We’re not talking about tracking people,” he explained.

The sheriff’s office is looking to expand its use of LPRs through a contract with Flock Safety, a company that provides the technology. Although the contract was approved earlier this year, a clerical error led to its reconsideration. Sheriff Hipolito remains committed to making Hays County the safest in America, stating, “I live here for a reason. I raise a family here for a reason, and I need it to stay that way.”

The delay in voting allows for more dialogue between officials and the public. Judge Becerra welcomed the pause, saying, “I’m glad, because this deserves a pause. It is worthy of pause.” Sheriff Hipolito also supports the conversations, noting, “It’s about having crucial conversations. It’s about educating all four commissioners.”

Public opinion on the matter is divided. Some residents express discomfort with the idea of data collection. Julio Cuellar, a Buda resident, said, “I don’t like it. It kind of makes me nervous them having, you know, all that info.” Others believe that if there is nothing to hide, the technology should not be an issue. Adan Hernandez, another Buda resident, stated, “I think it’s important to comply with them so they don’t have to feel endangered in their jobs, because that is a dangerous job.”

Sheriff Hipolito argues that the focus should be on public safety rather than mass surveillance. “It’s been blown out of proportion. I think it’s political theater to be quite frank with you,” he said. “We’re talking about rapists, sexual assault folks, violent criminals, who have done wrong. This just gives us a tool to rapidly get these people into custody so they don’t continue to prey on innocent victims in our county.”

Judge Becerra, however, remains concerned about the broader implications. “It’s not about our sheriff or our constables. We trust them and where it goes,” he said. “It’s what gets dialed into. It is what Big Brother energy comes in from other parts of the country, dials in on, and how they utilize that information. That is of concern.”

As the debate continues, Hays County officials have chosen not to comment publicly until after the scheduled vote on August 12th. The outcome of this decision could set a precedent for other communities considering similar technologies.