Wylie ends Flock Safety license plate reader contract
By ยท Updated 27 Aug 2026
26 August 2026.
The Wylie City Council voted unanimously on August 26, 2026, not to renew its contract with Flock Safety, the license plate reader camera company. The 7-0 vote ended the city's participation in the program, which began in August 2024. The annual cost for six cameras was approximately $27,000.
During the council meeting, Assistant Police Chief Tommy Walters described how the technology had assisted officers in solving cases. Mayor Matthew Porter acknowledged the investigative utility of license plate readers but expressed concern about data storage and sharing practices across multiple departments.
Residents who opposed the program focused on data access and oversight rather than the technology's investigative value. Austin Gregory, who founded DeFlock Wylie and organized a petition against the cameras, gathered more than 700 signatures from residents. Gregory stated his position that license plate readers can be useful but should operate under stricter regulations, including transparency mechanisms showing what searches occurred, who conducted them, and when.
The city's contract with Flock expires on October 31, 2026, with camera removal expected around that date. Readers can check whether their own municipalities have considered similar votes or policies on license plate reader data governance.
Read the original reporting: CBS News.
Related record: Austin, Texas in the jurisdictions directory.