BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas (KBTX) - Automated license plate readers (ALPRs), also known as Flock cameras, are sparking a heated debate across the nation and within Texas as local leaders and law enforcement search for a balance between effective policing and personal privacy.

The quiet observers of Texas roadways are growing in presence, prompting State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst to call for an outright ban on the cameras in Texas, arguing that the expanding digital network constitutes warrantless mass surveillance.

Local officials, however, remain divided on the benefits and risks of the tracking technology.source:(KBTX)Local leaders question Flock network, seek clarityWhile many city leaders and law enforcement representatives agree the core technology is sound-assisting in locating missing children and apprehending criminals-how the captured data is stored, shared, and managed has become a central point of contention."I have no problem with ALPR technology in general," College Station City Councilmember Melissa McIlhaney said.