Dallas City Council members voted on September 3, 2026, against an amendment that would have cut $1.5 million in local Flock camera funding, even as a state funding freeze forced police to switch off 321 cameras. If you drive in Dallas, the Texas Public Information Act lets you ask the Dallas Police Department whether your plate was searched, who can see the data, and how long it is kept.
That last question is more open than it should be. Here is what happened, what the records show so far, and how to ask.
What happened in Dallas
On September 1, the Dallas Police Department was notified that state grant money could no longer support Flock Safety cameras after Gov. Greg Abbott barred that use, The Dallas Express reported. DPD said it would stop operating 321 grant-funded cameras by September 15. As of August 29, officers and city employees had approved access to 684 cameras in total, and more than 300 were expected to stay on.
The same report broke down the three-year Flock contract the council had previously approved at roughly $5.7 million: $3.9 million from the General Fund, $1.69 million from a state Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant, and $125,000 from federal grants.
Council Member Adam Bazaldua then proposed removing $1.5 million in local Flock funding from the budget. In a nonbinding vote on September 3, a majority rejected it, according to The Dallas Morning News as republished by GovTech. Council members Jaime Resendez and Paula Blackmon backed the amendment. Bill Roth initially supported it and reversed after debate. Cara Mendelsohn compared cutting the funding to "defund the police 2.0." The final budget vote was scheduled for September 16.
Dallas is not alone. A Dallas Express report from September 13 counted 23 Texas governments pulling back from Flock after the state freeze.
What the cameras log, and how long Dallas keeps it
The Morning News reported that Dallas police retain Flock data for one year and that the data had been accessible to outside agencies, including for immigration enforcement.
The Dallas Express found the record is not consistent. Its September 13 report said a current DPD presentation lists 365 days of retention while the department's general order says 30 days. The same report said DPD narrowed direct search access from 1,508 agencies to 202 Texas agencies, with no federal or out-of-state agencies currently included, and that Internal Affairs Major Gabriel Candelaria discussed audit findings with the council.
A one-year window versus a 30-day window is a big difference for anyone whose car passes a camera every day. It is also exactly the kind of question a public records request can settle.
How to request your records under the Texas Public Information Act
Send a written request to the Dallas Police Department through the City of Dallas open records process. Keep a copy and note the date.
Ask for:
- Flock audit log entries showing any search of your license plate (plate and state) over a date range, such as the past 12 months.
- The current Flock retention setting for DPD's account, and the general order or policy that sets it.
- The current list of agencies with search access to DPD's Flock data, and the prior list before access was narrowed.
- Any Internal Affairs audit reports on Flock use presented to council in 2026.
- Records showing which cameras were shut off after the state grant notice, and what happens to data those cameras already collected.
Under Texas Government Code section 552.221, an officer for public information must produce records "promptly," which the statute defines as "as soon as possible under the circumstances, that is, within a reasonable time, without delay." If the records cannot be produced within 10 business days, the officer must certify that in writing and set a date and hour when they will be available. Note that a request is considered withdrawn if you do not pick up or pay for the records within 60 days after being told they are ready.
Our guide to filing a public records request walks through wording that holds up. The $9 Records Request Letter Pack has the plate-search letter and the ALPR policy and audit-log letter ready to fill in.
What to do at the next council meeting
- Ask one specific question in public comment: Is Dallas keeping Flock data for 365 days or 30 days? Ask for the answer in writing.
- Ask for the sharing list. Which 202 agencies have access, and who approves additions?
- Ask about the 321 cameras. Are they removed or only switched off, and has their stored data been deleted?
- Contact your district council member and ask how they voted on the Bazaldua amendment and why.
- Log cameras you see. Photograph them from the sidewalk and note the location. Our camera maps page lists maps that track them.
See how residents in other cities moved their councils in September's wave of Flock votes.
Questions people ask
Is Dallas getting rid of its Flock cameras?
Not entirely. Police said 321 state grant-funded cameras would stop operating by September 15, 2026, but a council majority rejected an amendment to cut $1.5 million in local Flock funding, and more than 300 cameras were expected to stay on.
Why did Dallas turn off 321 Flock cameras?
The Dallas Express reported that Gov. Greg Abbott barred state grant money from supporting Flock cameras, and DPD was notified on September 1, 2026.
How long does Dallas police keep Flock license plate data?
Reports conflict. The Dallas Morning News reported one year. The Dallas Express found a DPD presentation listing 365 days while the department's general order says 30 days. A public records request can get the current setting in writing.
Does Dallas share Flock data with ICE or other states?
The Dallas Express reported that DPD narrowed direct search access from 1,508 agencies to 202 Texas agencies, with no federal or out-of-state agencies currently included.
How long does Dallas have to respond to a public information request?
Texas Government Code section 552.221 requires prompt production. If records cannot be produced within 10 business days, the officer must certify that in writing and set a date when they will be available.
Get the free Flock Camera Field Guide first: it explains how Flock searches work and what a usable audit log looks like. Curious what else is tracking you? The free 3-minute exposure check takes three minutes. When you are ready to file, the Records Request Letter Pack gives you the letters for $9.
This is general information, not legal advice. Statutes and local policies change; check the current text before you file.
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