Robinson City Council Ends License Plate Reader Program After Resident Concerns

Robinson says no thanks to the Flock camera system. The Central Texas city votes to do away with the license plate readers.

Robinson City Council Votes Unanimously to Discontinue Flock Safety Surveillance Network

The Robinson City Council voted unanimously Tuesday evening against renewing the city’s contract for Flock Safety license plate reader technology, effectively terminating the surveillance program after a one-year trial. According to KCEN, the decision marks a sharp pivot for the city, which originally acquired the hardware in August 2025 through a state grant distributed by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.

Read More: Robinson's Surveillance Camera System Sparks Privacy Debate 

Balancing Public Safety Outcomes Against Privacy Scrutiny

City officials and police department leadership say the Flock Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system actively helped local law enforcement track suspect vehicles and resolve open criminal cases. No one is disputing that the cameras work. The problem Texans have with the system centers around civil liberties, how the information is used and stored and the mass surveillance.

Voting Based on Robinson Resident’s Wishes

During the public session, council members emphasized that resident feedback directly dictated their vote. Robinson’s Mayor said the city sought genuine community guidance rather than imposing the controversial technology on Robinson residents.

Read More: Waco Police Department's Different Approach To License Plate Technology 

A Broader Regional Pattern and National Privacy Concerns

By severing ties with Flock Safety, Robinson joins other nearby Central Texas jurisdictions, including Woodway and San Saba County, that have recently halted or backed away from license plate reader networks. Mayor May reflected that public scrutiny forced municipal leaders to evaluate the technology far more deeply than they did during its initial approval a year ago.

Future Considerations and State Funding Dynamics

Although Robinson is shutting down its current Flock network, city leadership has not entirely closed the door on future technology if vendors develop systems with privacy safeguards and stronger data protections. Mayor May emphasized that any future considerations would carefully balance constitutional rights against public safety objectives.

The Robinson Vote Separate from State Action on Flock Cameras

City leadership clarified that the vote was independent of recent state-level actions, including Governor Abbott's decision to freeze state grant funding for Flock technology.