Your trusted source for community news
Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to reflect the number of signatures needed will be based on the May 2026 Joint and Special Election ballot numbers.
Carrollton residents are mobilizing during early voting season to put a new ordinance on the ballot for the May election.
The DeFlock Carrollton group, which is opposed to the use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRS) by the city’s police force, is hoping to collect signatures and put an initiative on the ballot.
DeFlock Carrollton has organized signature collections at early voting sites starting Monday, Oct. 19 through Oct. 30. Organizer Hannah Foust said more dates will be added in November if necessary, but that DeFlock Carrollton hopes to collect enough signatures as soon as possible. Locations and more information are available on the organization’s website and social media.
“We are running both petitions to give the people of Carrollton options because we do believe the people of Carrollton should have a say,” Foust said. “The amendment language is focused on establishing regulations and transparency before implementing surveillance technologies.”
Under Article IX of Carrollton’s city charter, a voter-initiated measure generally requires signatures from registered Carrollton voters equal to 30% of the votes cast in the last regular municipal election, or 500 signatures, whichever is greater.
Carrollton’s most recent prior election, in May, had 6,873 ballots cast. Just over 2,000 signatures would have been needed to put an initiative on the next ballot.
The ordinance will need to be turned in during the first week of December to make it on the May ballot. Foust said organizers are aiming to collect around 3,000 signatures.
DeFlock Carrollton’s ordinance would place broad restrictions on license-plate readers and facial recognition. It would require a warrant for the collection or use of data related to these technologies and would place greater restrictions and additional safeguards in their use. Within 30 days of the ordinance taking effect, the city would have to remove covered technology from public property, terminate qualifying third-party arrangements where legally permitted, stop using this data and request deletion of data held by third parties.
A draft of the ordinance distinguishes mass-surveillance systems from ordinary technology. It says security cameras, doorbell cameras, traffic cameras and similar devices would be exempt from most restrictions. Government databases not related to ALPRS and similar technologies also would not likely be affected.
DeFlock Carrollton also will be collect signatures to amend the city charter to adopt protections governing the collection, use, retention and security of data, facial recognition and surveillance technologies.
This petition also would require the city to obtain a warrant for the collection and sharing of resident data from surveillance technologies and establish new approval processes through a Community Oversight Board and a public vote. It mandates that Carrollton establish a framework for the use of artificial intelligence including mandatory independent third-party auditing of collection, use, retention, and security protections.
The drafts are not yet finalized. The ordinance number, code chapter and article, and adoption dates are blank and the documents call for two readings and would take effect 10 days after publication.
Local News Matters.
