‘A recreation changer’: License plate reader cameras praised for crime fixing, criticized over privateness considerations – KSAT San Antonio

Daniela Ibarra, Investigative Reporter
Eddie Latigo, Photojournalist
Printed: January 27, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Daniela Ibarra, Investigative Reporter
Eddie Latigo, Photojournalist
UNIVERSAL CITY, Texas – On main streets in Common Metropolis, black cameras connected to poles control the hundreds of vehicles that move by.
It’s a part of the Flock Security digicam system. Common Metropolis has had the system in place for about two months.
Onerous-hitting journalism from the KSAT Investigates group delivered straight to your inbox.
“I used to be sort of skeptical at first,” mentioned Common Metropolis Police Lt. Stephen Rios. “However it’s been a recreation changer.”
Up to now, 12 of the cameras are put in in Common Metropolis. The division has their places listed on their coverage for the digicam’s utilization.
When a automotive passes one of many cameras, the system takes an image of the again of the automotive. It captures a automotive’s:
“It’s a reactive instrument greater than something,” mentioned Common Police Chief Johnny Siemens.
Siemens credit the system with serving to clear up extra circumstances of stolen automobiles and different property thefts.
In December 2024, Reside Oak police additionally credited the Flock system for serving to them make an arrest in a fuel station taking pictures.
“I feel that it’s impacted the occupation profoundly,” Siemens mentioned.
Whereas police reward the system, others imagine it places privateness in danger.
“Everybody has one thing to fret about with this technique, as a result of it’s monitoring individuals’s actions no matter whether or not they have been accused of any wrongdoing,” mentioned Savannah Kumar, a employees lawyer with ACLU Texas.
She believes the presence of the cameras is regarding.
“That signifies that our each day actions of touring to physician’s appointments, to dropping off our youngsters at varied actions, the spiritual facilities that we go to or AA conferences — all of that’s captured,” mentioned Kumar.
The constitutionality of the cameras has even been questioned in courtroom. In October 2024, a federal lawsuit was filed in opposition to Norfolk, Virginia claiming the Flock system violates driver’s civil rights.
Norfolk Lawsuit by gjimenez on Scribd
When requested what he would say to somebody who has considerations about privateness with the system, Siemens mentioned he’s “a citizen like all people else.”
“I don’t need Huge Brother watching any greater than anyone else does,” Siemens mentioned. “Relaxation assured, we’re not.”
Siemens mentioned that’s why he created a department policy for a way the Flock cameras are used, who has entry to the info and the way lengthy the info is saved.
“It’s made a extremely massive distinction,” mentioned Rios.
Learn extra reporting on the KSAT Investigates page.
Copyright 2025 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
Daniela Ibarra joined the KSAT Information group in July 2023. This isn’t her first time within the KSAT newsroom– the San Antonio native spent the summer time of 2017 as an intern. Daniela is a proud Imply Inexperienced alum, incomes her bachelor’s and grasp’s levels from the College of North Texas.
e mail
fb
twitter
instagram
e mail
Really useful Movies
Email Newsletters
KSAT RSS Feeds
Contests and Rules
Contact Us
KSAT Internships
Careers at KSAT
Closed Captioning / Audio Description
Public File
Current EEO Report
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell My Info
FCC Applications
Cookie Preferences
For those who need assistance with the Public File, name (210) 351-1200.
At KSAT, we’re dedicated to informing and delighting our viewers. In our dedication to masking our communities with innovation and excellence, we incorporate Synthetic Intelligence (AI) applied sciences to boost our information gathering, reporting, and presentation processes. Read our article to see how we’re utilizing Synthetic Intelligence.
Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and revealed by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings.

source