by Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune September 17, 2026 At Gov. Greg Abbott's direction, the Texas Department of Transportation has stopped issuing permits allowing Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers to be installed along state roads.

The pause, confirmed Thursday by an agency spokesperson, does not affect cameras already installed along state rights-of-way, including more than 900 cameras operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"TxDOT's role is to review permits to ensure license plate readers are installed correctly and safely along state-owned roadways," an agency spokesperson said in a statement.