Texas’s $1 auto-insurance fee fuels a sweeping Flock camera network, drawing privacy concerns

Texas’ $1 annual auto-insurance fee, enacted to curb catalytic converter theft, has been redirected into expanding Flock license-plate readers. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority has funded roughly 3,200 Flock cameras with grants and about 1,200 more through a DPS contract, bringing the statewide total to around 4,400 by 2026. The program has expanded beyond theft prevention, prompting privacy concerns, local opposition, and calls for warrants or bans; Governor Abbott has paused state funding for local Flock grants, while lawmakers consider further oversight.