Bastrop Bans License Plate Readers | Austin News

Bastrop City Council just voted unanimously to scrap their Flock Safety license plate readers — covering up all 12 cameras and ending the contract — with a new rule requiring city approval for any future surveillance tech. This mirrors a growing trend across Central Texas, as cities like Austin, San Marcos, and Pflugerville ditch or shut down similar systems amid rising privacy concerns. Police admit the tech helped solve crimes — like finding a stolen car with a baby inside in Kyle — but public distrust has grown after revelations that unauthorized users accessed data. The move underscores a push for local control and transparency, ensuring elected officials, not private contractors, decide what’s watched and how. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c94cfa37e0380c31