Texas lawmakers added $1 to car insurance. That money built a statewide Flock surveillance network

Lawmakers added $1 to car insurance policies. That money paid for Flock cameras

A $1 fee added to Texas auto insurance policies in 2023 to fight catalytic converter theft has quietly funded at least 3,200 Flock license plate readers across the state, according to a Texas Tribune analysis. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, overseen by Greg Abbott appointees, funneled over $30 million into the surveillance network, which can track vehicles nationwide without warrants. After the Tribune's findings, Abbott paused state funding for the cameras, but the program has already sparked privacy concerns and legislative backlash.