Only an appreciation for the important but limited role of criminal law, and the unintended consequences of its indiscriminate application, can ensure that Texans are not handcuffed by a proliferation of criminal laws.
Criminal Justice
License plate readers can aid police — but Texas needs guardrails
Earlier this summer, two Texas law enforcement agencies announced investigations involving the alleged misuse of Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology. In Fort Bend County, a sheriff’s lieutenant admitted to conducting repeated searches unrelated to official law enforcement duties nearly 200 times. Shortly thereafter, Baytown Police opened internal affairs and criminal investigations into allegations that an...
August 19, 2026