Four new rules now govern how Fort Bend County law enforcement officers search license plate reader cameras, Missouri City Police Chief Troy Finner and county leaders announced Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The safeguards require a valid case or event number for every search, a documented reason for each query, regular audits and disciplinary action up to indefinite suspension for misuse, according to KPRC 2, which first reported the announcement.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan said the participating agencies already had individual policies for automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, including Flock cameras. Wednesday's press conference established four shared standards across departments.

"No equipment, no technology is going to be foolproof of stopping everything," Finner said, adding that agencies need to give residents more information about the technology and set consistent expectations for its use.

Finner said decisions about whether cameras stay in place should involve elected officials and the public, while law enforcement leaders focus on policies, procedures and accountability.

DA warns misuse can bring criminal charges

District Attorney Brian Middleton said his office warned Fort Bend County law enforcement agencies in a July 24 letter that misusing ALPR data can be a criminal offense. He encouraged agencies to report suspected misuse for investigation.

Chief Prosecutor Katherine Peterson said the office has received several referrals involving potential criminal offenses tied to ALPR technology and other law enforcement databases. Some cases have been presented to grand juries, Peterson said.

Others remain under investigation.

The district attorney's office is also proposing legislation to strengthen penalties for misuse of the technology, Peterson said.

Middleton acknowledged residents' concerns about privacy and the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. He said officials believe the cameras remain a critical law enforcement tool but emphasized that people who misuse the data should be held accountable.

Cameras credited with solving crimes

Fagan and Middleton said the cameras have helped investigators solve serious crimes, including murders, and locate fugitives. Middleton said the technology helped authorities capture a fugitive from Hardin County in Fort Bend County earlier Oct. 21.

Fagan said businesses and homeowners associations can purchase Flock cameras and share access with law enforcement. He noted that investigators can use camera data to track vehicles connected to reported crimes, but a license plate alone does not always establish probable cause.

The frequency of audits may vary by department, Fagan said, with some potentially conducting them more often than monthly.

The announcement follows at least seven accusations of Flock system misuse by officers across the Houston area, KPRC 2 reported in September.

In one Fort Bend County case, internal affairs records first reported by ABC13 showed a sheriff's office lieutenant searched one license plate 148 times and another 41 times between January 2022 and December 2025, according to Katy Christian Magazine. The lieutenant received a two-day suspension but was not criminally charged.

Gov. Greg Abbott paused state funding for Flock cameras in September, KPRC 2 reported, forcing agencies to reconsider how they pay for the technology.

Middleton said officials want state lawmakers to strengthen the laws governing misuse of the systems.