License Plate Readers: Dallas vs Garland
How do license plate readers rules compare between Dallas, TX and Garland, TX?
Dallas and Garland have similar restriction levels.
Dallas, TX
Dallas County
Texas has no specific automated license plate reader statute regulating retention or sharing. Dallas Police Department deploys mobile and fixed ALPRs under General Order 311.00 and shares hits through the National Crime Information Center for active investigations.
View full Dallas rules →Garland, TX
Dallas County
Texas has no statute specifically governing automated license plate readers. Dallas County Sheriff and many cities deploy ALPRs for investigations and BOLOs. Data retention and access are set by department policy and Texas public records law.
View full Garland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Dallas | Garland |
|---|---|---|
| State ALPR statute | None enacted in Texas | - |
| DPD policy | General Order 311.00 | - |
| Common vendors | Vigilant and Flock Safety | - |
| Hot list source | NCIC and TCIC databases | - |
| Public records | TX Gov Code Chapter 552 | - |
| TX statute | - | None specific to ALPR |
| Sheriff use | - | Active for investigations |
| Private deployment | - | Flock and HOAs common |
| Records access | - | TX PIA Chapter 552 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Dallas FAQ
Can Dallas Police track my movements with ALPRs?
ALPRs capture plate sightings as your vehicle passes cameras, then compare against hot lists. Texas has no specific retention law, so Dallas Police follow internal General Order 311.00. Hits trigger officer review, while non-hit data is retained for investigations.
Can I get my ALPR data via open records request?
Maybe. Texas Government Code Chapter 552 lets residents request records, but Section 552.108 lets police withhold ALPR data tied to active investigations. Aggregate or non-investigative records may be released subject to attorney general review.
Garland FAQ
Can I find out if an ALPR captured my plate?
Submit a Texas Public Information Act request to the agency you suspect has the data. Law enforcement may withhold under investigative exceptions, but transactional logs may be releasable.
How long does Dallas County keep ALPR data?
Per Sheriff policy, typically 30 to 90 days for non-hit captures. Hit captures associated with active investigations may be retained longer per department records schedule.
Compare other topics
See how Dallas and Garland compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool