Texas Insurance Fee Funds Flock Cameras | Dallas News

Texas drivers are paying an extra dollar on car insurance—now totaling tens of millions—to fight catalytic converter theft, but the money’s been quietly funding Flock cameras instead of police patrols or undercover units. Lawmakers didn’t know the funds would go to surveillance tech, yet license plate readers topped law enforcement’s poll as the best tool to track thefts with no witnesses. Since 2023, over $30 million has expanded the Flock network, with Dallas alone getting $1.7 million for 200 cameras. Now Governor Abbott has ordered state agencies to stop using state funds for Flock cameras amid privacy concerns and misuse reports—including a case in Lufkin where an officer allegedly monitored people for over a year. But since most funding comes from federal sources, the cameras aren’t disappearing anytime soon. 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/5bbb43842191d38c