Source reporting: Texas Scorecard
Wylie City Council voted unanimously to stop the automatic renewal of the city's contract with Flock Safety, according to Texas Scorecard. The 7-0 decision pauses the existing agreement while leaving open the possibility that officials could consider a new contract with different terms.
Council members David Duke and Dave Strang placed the renewal issue on the agenda. During the meeting, city officials and residents presented competing views of the automated license plate reader system. Wylie Assistant Police Chief Tommy Walters described the technology as an important investigative tool and cited local cases in which it assisted police, including a drive-by shooting and a homicide.
Residents focused on privacy, data collection and the safeguards written into the contract. Austin Gregory, an organizer with DeFlock Wylie, argued that the system records more than plate numbers and contributes vehicle information to a searchable network. The group also pointed to reported cases elsewhere in which law enforcement personnel allegedly misused license plate data.
The motion adopted by council suspended the automatic renewal and called for a later work session to discuss possible terms. That distinction is important: the vote ended the current renewal path, but it did not permanently prohibit Wylie from using Flock technology in the future.
The decision followed months of organized public participation. Texas Scorecard reported that more than 700 residents signed a petition and that the council chamber was crowded for the vote. Mayor Matthew Porter was cited by the local group as saying the existing contract did not require sufficient protections.
Wylie joins several Texas jurisdictions reconsidering automated license plate reader programs. Pflugerville and its school district recently deactivated cameras, while Hood County decommissioned three cameras after public opposition. Texas lawmakers are also expected to examine possible statewide rules during the next legislative session.
The Wylie vote has broader public-integrity significance because it combines surveillance policy with contract oversight. Local governments must weigh documented law-enforcement benefits against data access, retention, sharing and misuse risks. By stopping automatic renewal and moving the issue to a public work session, the council created an opportunity to examine those terms before committing taxpayer funds or continuing the city's participation in a wider surveillance network.