SEN. KOLKHORST SAYS ‘GET THE FLOCK OUT OF TEXAS’ AS SCRUTINY GROWS OVER AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS

  

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) is expressing skepticism regarding automated license plate readers (ALPRs), saying she is on board with a potential ban on them in the next legislative session.

Kolkhorst posted an op-ed on social media on Monday titled “Get the Flock Out of Texas!”, in which she stated that her colleagues in the Texas Senate are discussing an outright ban on ALPRs, and that she is “right there with them”. 

In her post, Kolkhorst said that Americans are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures by the Fourth Amendment in the Bill of Rights, and that she believes the rising concerns over Flock cameras are “born from the same fears that spawned the Fourth Amendment in 1791.”  She said while Flock’s network of ALPRs has been sold as a way to assist law enforcement with tracking stolen cars or locating missing people, she believes their use “aims to be a frightening new web of warrantless mass surveillance.”

Kolkhorst said there is a risk of abuse with the ALPR technology and that she is concerned about how, with the capabilities of artificial intelligence, the data gained could be linked to other personal information like financial accounts, health records, purchasing preferences or religious affiliations.  She also expressed fears that the technology could be used to enforce restrictions in the event of another pandemic.

Kolkhorst added, “Texans should have a reasonable expectation of privacy.  That means we must pull in the Constitutional reins on new technologies that can arbitrarily invade a person's life, home, or property.  My legislative actions on this issue will be founded in the Fourth Amendment.”

Last week, Governor Greg Abbott ordered all state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras amid rising pushback against the devices.  Several cities have taken steps to end their contracts with the company or cover the cameras.