Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. That money paid for thousands of Flock cameras.

Key Points:

• In 2023, the Texas Legislature unanimously raised auto insurance fees by $1 to combat catalytic converter theft, but at least $30 million of that revenue has since been used to expand the state's Flock surveillance camera network across Texas.
• The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, led by a board mostly appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, has funded over 3,200 Flock cameras through grants to law enforcement agencies and direct contracts with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
• Despite the cameras' role in aiding investigations, including catalytic converter theft and other crimes, the program has faced growing backlash over privacy concerns and reports of misuse, with some lawmakers and community groups calling for restrictions or bans on the surveillance technology.
• Gov. Abbott's office recently announced a pause on state funding for local grants to be used for Flock cameras amid controversy, while some legislators plan to introduce bills to ban or regulate the use of license plate reader data due to Fourth Amendment concerns.
• Critics argue the expansive and warrantless data collection by Flock cameras poses serious privacy risks, with the technology enabling law enforcement to track vehicles nationwide and share data across jurisdictions without judicial oversight.