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Harris County commissioners on May 28 renewed a contract for the Harris County Sheriff's Office's use of license plate readers to assist with criminal investigations. However, more than a dozen residents spoke against the renewal before the court's vote, sharing concerns about surveillance, data privacy and improper use.
What you need to know: Commissioners renewed a $868,975 contract with public safety technology company Flock Safety to continue the use of license plate readers, or LPRs, as well as a sound detection system that identifies sounds such as gunshots, screeching tires and breaking glass, according to agenda documents.
More details: With a June 6 contract expiration approaching, Harris County's four precinct commissioners voted in favor of the renewal with the possibility to revisit the agreement during a future Commissioners Court meeting. County Judge Lina Hidalgo abstained after pushing to move the item to a different meeting to allow for more public discussion.
Some context: According to the sheriff's office, Harris County has approximately 480 LPR cameras, which only capture vehicle information, not biometric data.
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