License Plate Readers: What We’ve Asked
This page tracks public questions about automated license plate readers (ALPR) in Freestone County, what has been asked, and what answers have come back. We will update it as records arrive.
What is an ALPR?
An automated license plate reader is a camera system that photographs passing vehicles, reads the license plates and stores the plate number with the date, time and location. Officers can search the stored data later or get alerts when a listed plate passes a camera. Flock Safety is one well-known vendor; others exist.
Law enforcement agencies use ALPR to find stolen vehicles, missing persons and wanted suspects. Residents in many communities have also asked how long the data is kept, who can search it and whether it is shared with other agencies. Texas DPS and the International Association of Chiefs of Police both publish guidance recommending written policies on these points.
What has been asked
| Date | Asked of | What was asked |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2026 | Sheriff’s Office (Public Information Act request) | Any ALPR or Flock contracts; written ALPR policies; data retention and sharing rules; body-worn camera make, model and policy; and, if no ALPR system is in use, any proposals or grant applications from the last 24 months. |
| Aug 17, 2026 | Commissioners Court | A request to place ALPR disclosure and a written County policy on a Court agenda. Read the request FCGGC-SAFETY-000013 |
| Sept 2, 2026 | Commissioners Court | The item appeared on the Court’s Sept 2 agenda among citizen requests. A written statement was submitted for the record. Robert spoke to the Court on the item; the minutes record no action (item 20). |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Sheriff’s Office | A follow-up on the Aug 17 request, sent by email. Read the follow-up FCGGC-SAFETY-000017 |
The Aug 17 requests were made by Robert Sharpe as a private citizen, before the Council was formed. The Council has followed up on them since.
What we’ve received so far
- Sheriff’s Office: no records yet (request status). The original request’s usual response time has passed; a reply or a date on the Nov 1 follow-up is due about Nov 17, 2026.
- County Judge: As reported by the Freestone County Times (Aug 30, 2026), Judge Lloyd Lane said after the Aug 19 Commissioners Court meeting that “Freestone County does not own or operate any Flock Cameras,” and that any cameras along I-45 in the county “would belong to the State.” He added that the County had not been made aware of any owned by cities in the county.
- Commissioners Court action: the Sept 2, 2026 minutes (FCGGC-GOV-000121, item 20) record no action on this citizen request. The Sheriff’s records request is still open.
Documents
- Robert Sharpe letter on Flock license plate readers (Aug 17, before the Council) FCGGC-SAFETY-000013
- Robert Sharpe post on Flock license plate readers (before the Council) FCGGC-SAFETY-000015
- Flock license plate reader statement and policy recommendations (before the Council) FCGGC-SAFETY-000016
- Council written statement for the Sept 2, 2026 Commissioners Court meeting FCGGC-GOV-000009 — includes the license plate reader item
- Request to the Sheriff on license plate readers (Aug 17, hand delivered) FCGGC-SAFETY-000019
- Council follow-up to the Sheriff (Nov 1) FCGGC-SAFETY-000017
The first three were written by Robert Sharpe as a private citizen before the Council was formed, and are posted as written. Search all records in the Document Index.
Questions still open
- Does the County or the Sheriff’s Office use, contract for or have search access to any ALPR system, including one owned by another agency?
- If so, is there a written policy on who may search the data, how long it is kept, and who it is shared with?
- What body-worn camera system does the Sheriff’s Office use, and under what written policy?
These are points of clarification, not accusations.
The Freestone County Good Governance Council is a nonpartisan citizens’ group. We post what we ask and what the records show. If you have a correction, please let us know. Last updated: November 7, 2026.