TL;DR
Texas lawmakers quietly diverted up to $30 million of a $1 auto insurance fee, meant to fight catalytic converter theft, to expand the state's Flock surveillance camera network.
In 2023, the Texas Legislature unanimously passed a law adding $1 to auto insurance costs, ostensibly to fight rampant catalytic converter theft. Three years later, at least $30 million of that fee has gone to supercharge the state's Flock surveillance network, with cameras stretching from El Paso to the Louisiana border.
Money from drivers' pockets
The funds came from every driver's higher premium. Drivers thought they were protecting their cars, but instead they funded government surveillance cameras on highways and streets, which even the governor briefly halted.
Surveillance network quietly expands
Flock cameras automatically scan license plates, logging every vehicle's movements. Police can use them to track suspects, but they can also monitor ordinary people. The money was spent quietly until the news broke.
In short: you thought your premium was protecting your car, but it actually bought a surveillance system pointed at you.
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