HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT
The Hays County Commissioners Court again delayed a vote on the future of Automatic License Plate Reader cameras at the Aug. 19 Commissioners Court meeting, agreeing to table discussion pending further research into the use and impact of the cameras.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office currently operates six Flock Safety ALPR cameras in Hays County. In February, Commissioner Walt Smith sponsored an item to purchase four additional Flock cameras. The court unanimously approved the item in February, but due to a clerical error, the item had to be re-introduced to the court and has yet to be approved.
“The vast majority of my constituents think that this is a good technology, and they support it,” said Smith.
He also discussed what he views as the importance of the cameras to law enforcement.
“They work to ensure justice for victims, and this is a tool that they have in their toolbox that helps provide that.”
Commissioner Morgan Hammer, Pct. 3, sought an explanation for the change of heart from her fellow commissioners.
“I’m just saying we need to understand the reason why in February we didn’t have this much discussion around it,” said Hammer. “We represent the people of Hays County. We want to make sure we do our due diligence to them and also to our law enforcement.”
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said changes in the federal government since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump have given him a different perspective on the use of Flock cameras.
“Flock continues the erosion of our right to privacy, especially by the federal government,” Becerra said. “Flock cameras indiscriminately scan and store data on every vehicle, not just suspected criminals.
“Mass surveillance is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes,” Becerra said. “Not local governments that believe in individual liberty and minimal intrusion, what begins as a crime fighting tool often expands in scope.”
County Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, Pct. 2, suggested holding another community meeting to further explore the pros and cons of ALPR cameras.
“I don’t believe all the questions asked were answered, so there is still a lot of concern” said Gonzales. “Today, I’m not prepared to support cancellation, but I’m also not prepared to expand the system. I just feel that there are further discussions that the community and we can have and learn from.”
Commissioner Ingalsbe, along with Commissioner Michelle Cohen, Pct. 2, and Hays County Sheriff Anthony Hipolito held a community forum at the San Marcos Public Library the day on Aug. 18, a day before the hearing.
“I’ve never felt a more divided issue,” said Cohen. “I really was hoping that we could build bridges instead of walls, with each other, and I feel like that failed last night, but it also showed me that more conversation needs to be had.”
Flock Safety Director Public Affairs Trevor Chandler, speaking during the public comments section of the meeting, discussed what he viewed as common misconceptions about the ALPR cameras.
“Flock is not facial recognition or biometric tracking,” Chandler said. “It is not using personally identifiable information. … Flock ALPR is a tool that empowers your law enforcement with objective, real time evidence centered on transparency and data security. The ALPR program is not mass surveillance, and in fact, is the exact opposite. It allows for precision policing.”
The data received from ALPR cameras can be an effective aid in solving crimes, according to Allison Buess, Hays County Assistant Criminal District Attorney during public comments.
“It is an important tool that provides that first step for law enforcement. It’s about things like being able to verify someone’s alibi and eliminate them as a potential suspect. … It provides an early warning system for members of our community.”
Hays County Sheriff’s Office investigators used Flock cameras to determine the identity of shooting suspect Omar Galvan-Ochoa, according to a recent Hays County press release. Galvan-Ochoa was found guilty last week of a fatal shooting in 2023.
San Marcos City Councilperson Alyssa Garza, Place 3, expressed concern about the data collected by Flock cameras during public comments.
“Once this data exists, you can’t get it back. You may trust who has access today, but leadership changes,” Garza said. “Policies change, and history shows that systems like this are inevitably used in ways never disclosed initially. This isn’t about being for or against law enforcement. It’s about recognizing that flock simply is not a good community partner.”
According to Bryant Cuadros, Hays County Public Information Officer, the six Hays County ALPR cameras are located at: - FM 150 in the area of Hays City Store (Driftwood) - Hwy. 21 near the intersection with FM 2001 (Niederwald) - Two cameras at US 290 near the intersection with Nutty Brown Road (unincorporated Austin) - US 290 near the intersection with Ranch Road 12 (Dripping Springs) - Overpass Road near the intersection with Firecracker Drive (unincorporated Buda) The city of San Marcos currently has 12 ALPR cameras in fixed locations and two mobile cameras that are deployed based on investigative needs, according the San Marcos Police Department website. The SMPD Facebook page has links to the locations of the cameras.
Hays County Sheriff’s Office can search SMPD cameras/data if they request to do so and follow the ALPR policy set out by SMPD, according a SMPD spokesperson.
“We do not have direct access to SMPD’s Flock cameras,” said Cuadros. “We can make a request for license plate reads using a request form; the form requires specific parameters be met such as search types and search time frames. Once the form is submitted a member of SMPD’s staff will review the request and if approved respond back with the results.”
The next Hays County Commissioner’s Court meeting is scheduled for Sept. 2. As of Monday morning, the agenda had not been published.
