THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The Woodlands Township is funding 30 new Flock license plate cameras in high-traffic areas as part of a partnership with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
A separate state grant is adding another 30 cameras in other parts of Montgomery County, officials said.
Chief Deputy Jonathan Zitzmann said the cameras capture only license plates and vehicle details — not people — and are used strictly to support investigations. The technology has already helped locate missing seniors, recover stolen vehicles, and provide leads in a variety of criminal cases.
“Residents here support giving us tools to combat crime, and Flock helps us solve cases we otherwise couldn’t,” Zitzmann said.
The new cameras in The Woodlands are expected to be installed by summer. Officials said exact locations will not be released for public safety reasons.
Drivers in the area expressed mixed reactions to the new cameras. Sai Ponnapalli said he supports the program.
“I think it’s a good initiative. There are privacy concerns, but if there are real checks and balances and it’s used for good, I think it helps,” Ponnapalli said.
Others were more cautious. Aoun Rizvi said he understands the benefits but worries about potential misuse.
“I know the benefits, but with the current political climate, I don’t feel confident my privacy would actually be protected,” Rizvi said.
Civil liberties groups such as the ACLU and the advocacy campaign Deflock.me have also raised concerns, warning that the network could function as a broad surveillance system without strict safeguards.
Zitzmann said the cameras operate within a 30-day data retention period and are only used to develop investigative leads. In one recent case, the system helped law enforcement track a missing elderly driver through multiple camera hits, eventually locating the individual safely in Lufkin.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says the cameras touch thousands of cases each year, from property crimes to searches for missing persons, and remain an important tool in public safety efforts.