SAN MARCOS POLICE DEPARTMENT
The San Marcos Police Department is committed to protecting the privacy of our residents. In response to community and Council feedback, SMPD is implementing a series of policy and operational changes to strengthen privacy protections related to automated license plate reader technology.
Effective June 9, SMPD ceased all automatic sharing of ALPR data with outside law enforcement agencies. Instead, data will now only be shared upon request and confirmation of a specific criminal investigation or prosecution. Agencies must also complete a formal request process, including a non-disclosure agreement, before data will be released.
“Building and maintaining public trust is fundamental to our mission,” San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said. “As we leverage Flock ALPR technology to enhance community safety, we will ensure that clear expectations and usage protocols for Flock ALPR data are regularly communicated and understood throughout the department, reinforcing our commitment to privacy and responsible data stewardship.”
Additional steps taken by the department include the deactivation and planned permanent removal of five LPR cameras, leaving only the original 14 that were installed in 2022. The department will place the remaining 14 cameras along routes into and out of the city. A map of the final camera locations is available at sanmarcostx. gov/ALPR.
The department has also formalized an audit process to ensure ALPR data is used appropriately as an SMPD investigative tool. While audits were not mandated under the original 2022 policy, a requirement for annual audits was added in the March 2025 revisions proposed by staff. Turning off automatic data sharing with other law enforcement agencies allows the department to audit its own personnel directly. All inquiries into the ALPR system must now be tied to an active investigation and users will be required to enter both a reason for the inquiry and an associated case number.
Finally, to further strengthen data safeguards, the department is working with Flock Safety and the city’s Legal team to amend the existing contract and prevent the collection of aggregated data unless expressly requested by the city.
