At the direction of Republican Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has temporarily stopped issuing permits for Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers to be installed along state roads. This pause, confirmed by a TxDOT spokesperson, does not affect cameras already in place. These include more than 900 devices operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety. TxDOT’s role is to review and approve permits to ensure such cameras are installed properly and safely on state-owned roads. The suspension applies to permits that have been approved but not yet installed. The agency clarified that it does not install the devices or have access to data collected by the cameras. The pause began in early September, according to a presentation by the police chief of Schertz, a city northeast of San Antonio. However, TxDOT has not yet officially confirmed the start date. Flock cameras scan all passing vehicles, capturing license plate numbers and other identifying data, which are then stored in a searchable database. This has raised concerns about privacy, as the technology allows for extensive tracking of vehicle movements. TxDOT’s decision to halt permits followed Governor Abbott’s order in late August to block state funding for Flock cameras. This came as the Texas Tribune was preparing to publish an investigation into a small state agency that had directed at least $30 million toward funding over 3,200 Flock cameras across the state. On August 31, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also ordered the removal of similar cameras from state roads, stating he did not want "a surveillance state." In August, there were an estimated 13,000 Flock cameras in Texas, but hundreds have been shut down after Abbott’s funding freeze. City councils and county commissions across the state have also been removing cameras in response to public pressure over privacy concerns and reports of police misuse, including cases where officers were arrested or investigated for using the cameras to stalk individuals. While law enforcement agencies have defended the cameras as an effective tool for solving crimes, reducing vehicle theft, and locating missing people, the controversy over their use continues to grow.