Hollywood Park council approves TxDOT MOU for license-plate readers, seeks state grants for public-safety technology

Hollywood Park officials voted Dec. 16 to authorize the police chief to pursue a multiple-use agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to install automated license-plate recognition cameras on TxDOT right-of-way and to apply for related state grants to fund the upgrades.

Police Chief Chad Fritchard told the council the newer ALPR system would connect to a statewide "hot list" maintained by DPS, which will notify patrol officers within roughly 30 seconds if a scanned plate is associated with a stolen vehicle, active warrant or other law-enforcement interest. "If someone comes in on Mecca and they're on the hot list ... we will get an alert in the patrol car," Fritchard said during the meeting.

Fritchard said the proposed grant would supplement the town's existing three cameras and add coverage to major entry and exit points, plus a few locations on the feeder road in front of Hollywood Park. The grant proposal listed roughly nine camera locations as a goal; Fritchard said the vendor model would shift equipment maintenance to the provider and that any local recurring licensing fees could be paid from seizure funds.

Councilmembers raised privacy concerns and asked whether the system records video or personal data. Fritchard said the ALPRs capture license-plate images only, that stored plate data is not public record and that access is limited to law enforcement. "If you're on a public roadway operating a motor vehicle, there is no expectation of privacy," he said when addressing privacy questions.

In the same portion of the meeting, the council voted to authorize submission of a body-worn camera grant to the Office of the Governor. Fritchard said the grant typically covers approximately 75% of equipment and service costs; the town's share would be handled from seizure funds if the award requires a local match.

All related resolutions were approved by the council during the consent items pulled for discussion. The council did not set installation dates; Fritchard said timing depends on grant awards and final agreements with TxDOT and vendors.