Abilene residents urge council to limit license-plate readers, citing privacy concerns

Several Abilene residents urged the City Council to limit the use of automated license-plate readers and other surveillance technology, saying privacy protections must travel with new law-enforcement tools. "I'm here because I'm concerned about the deployment of Flock license plate readers within the city," Spencer Butcher said, urging council members to protect both public safety and constitutional liberty.

Susan Perry told the council she favors spending on core services—street repairs and firefighters—rather than surveillance contracts, and asked officials to cancel contracts with companies that she described as invasive. "Please use all of our money sparingly and wisely for projects that are absolutely necessary," Perry said, adding that residents want clearer, more accessible communication from city staff about spending. Both speakers framed their remarks as seeking balance between safety and personal liberty and asked council to consider policy limits before broad deployment of tracking technologies.