Mayes Middleton supported continued investigative use of license-plate readers but wanted active-case requirements and penalties for misuse
Mayes Middleton2026 Republican candidate for Texas attorney general
Mayes Middleton supported continued investigative use of license-plate readers but wanted active-case requirements and penalties for misuse.
“You got to have an active case, just like they did in my case here when they stole the car.”
Interview
Where this statement fits
Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?
Networked automated license-plate readers record passing vehicles and let agencies search or share travel records across locations. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to prohibit these networks, keep them with legal limits, or defend their use for investigations. This tracker records attributable positions on that choice, including proposals that would affect only public funding or data access.
Source and context
Interview
About this source
Candidate interviews with Nathan Johnson and Mayes Middleton
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
CBS News Texas asked Middleton whether police should be able to search ALPR databases.
After the quotation
He cited a stolen-vehicle recovery and proposed guardrails, not abolition.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Middleton supported continued investigative use of license-plate readers but said searches need an active case and misuse needs penalties. Keeping the readers under conditions fits Mixed or conditional.
- Recorded on
- Published here
More from this case
Read the full caseJacob Burnett says Flock-style cameras should be done away with, with warrants required if they stay
“The systems themselves can be modified to prevent nearly all abuse and be made more secure by requiring warrants for access or follow through on any data the systems collect and have all data stored on the hardware itself preventing viewing from remote locations, requiring strict login credentials and a connecting warrant number to access. These are common sense changes that if the systems are to be used I feel could correct a lot of abuse or privacy concerns but I also feel the systems should be done away with overall, especially in the realm of predictive crime analytics.”Read statement
Dean Brewer, an independent candidate for Tennessee governor, says Flock cameras should be banned
“I believe flock cameras should be banned.”Read statement
Buddy Carter says license plate cameras help investigators but need privacy safeguards
“Technologies like license plate recognition cameras can provide valuable investigative tools, but they have also raised important questions about privacy and government oversight. As these systems become more common, it is important to balance public safety with appropriate safeguards that protect individual privacy.”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Mayes Middleton supported continued investigative use of license-plate readers but wanted active-case requirements and penalties for misuse
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/2872-mayes-middleton-supported-continued-investigative-use-of-license
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Mayes Middleton supported continued investigative use of license-plate readers but wanted active-case requirements and penalties for misuse". First published: 2026-09-29. Last updated: 2026-09-29. https://disputeindex.com/events/2872-mayes-middleton-supported-continued-investigative-use-of-license