What Lubbock’s 103 Flock Cameras Record — and What They Don’t

# Record — and What They Don't

Lubbock's police department uses 103 Flock Safety cameras to help investigate targeted crimes such as wanted persons cases, hit-and-run, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. Here is what the system's operators and the vendor say the cameras collect, how the data moves, and the stated privacy limits.

What the cameras detect

According to Flock's information and Lubbock reporting, the cameras are designed to detect vehicles and read license plates. The company states they do not detect personal attributes such as faces, gender, or race. That distinction is the central privacy claim: the system is an automated vehicle-locating tool rather than a facial surveillance system.

Who receives the data

Lubbock's Flock data is shared with other law enforcement networks across Texas. That includes local police departments statewide, some task forces, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). While the data can be shared, Flock says each agency controls access to the data it collects. In Lubbock's case, the city controls its own access permissions rather than the data being automatically available in a single national repository.

Limits on use and commercial access

Flock states that the data it gathers is not sold to third parties. The company's published rules also say data use is prohibited for immigration enforcement and for traffic enforcement purposes. Those limits are part of the vendor's stated policy about what customers and partners may use the data for.

Claims about facial recognition and tracking people

Flock explicitly denies employing facial recognition on its cameras and says the equipment lacks the ability to recognize or track people by their faces. The company frames the technology as plate- and vehicle-focused.

Security and risk concerns

A common worry is that camera data could be hacked or misused. Flock claims it uses strong security infrastructure and additional safeguards to protect stored data. The company also emphasizes that data control sits with each agency, which affects who can request or obtain records.

What this means for residents

If you drive in Lubbock, your vehicle's plate may be detected by any of the 103 cameras if it passes in view. That detection can be used in investigations of the categories listed by the city and shared with other law enforcement entities in Texas. According to the vendor, the system is not designed to identify or store facial data, and policies restrict some uses such as immigration and traffic enforcement.

Open points for readers to consider

• Data sharing with other agencies means a plate hit in Lubbock can be visible to a broader set of law enforcement users within Texas. The city says it controls its own access permissions.

Short, practical takeaway: Lubbock's Flock cameras are presented as a vehicle-focused surveillance tool used for specific crime types, with vendor promises about no facial recognition, no sale of data, and restrictions on certain uses. The network also shares information with other Texas law enforcement entities while placing local control of access with the collecting agency.