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TX Public Records Law

Texas Public Information Act (PIA)

Gov't Code Chapter 552

Initial response
10 business days
Penalties
Fee shifting
Attorney fees
Mandatory
ALPR exemption
None
Burden of proof
On the agency

Response timeline

Agency must respond "promptly." If unable to produce records within 10 business days, must certify in writing and set a date for production. If the agency believes information is excepted, it must request an Attorney General ruling within 10 business days. Failure to timely request a ruling results in a presumption that the information is public.

Appeal process

Administrative appeal required?
No, can go directly to court
Appeal response deadline
45 business days
Appeals body
Office of the Attorney General, Open Records Division
Advisory resource

The Office of the Attorney General, Open Records Division can provide guidance and advisory opinions on your request.

Website
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government
Phone
(512) 478-3300
Address
PO Box 12548, Austin, TX 78711-2548

Enforcement

Court action
Writ of mandamus in District Court
Filing fee
~$350
Filing deadline
No specific deadline
Attorney fee trigger
Court shall award reasonable attorney fees, costs, and expenses to a requestor who substantially prevails, unless the agency acted in reasonable reliance on a court judgment, appellate opinion, or written AG decision. Gov't Code § 552.323.

Fees

Copy fee
$0.1/page
Search fees
Allowed
Electronic delivery
Not required

Standard copy charge is $0.10/page. Agencies may charge for personnel time at the actual cost of the lowest-salaried employee capable of performing the task when requests require more than limited staff time. Overhead charge of 20% of personnel costs may be added. Cost rules are set by the AG under 1 TAC Chapter 70.

ALPR-specific provisions

Favorable

No ALPR-specific exemption. ALPR data is subject to standard PIA exemptions only. No ALPR-specific public records exemption. A 2025 bill (HB 961) to regulate ALPR use did not advance. Texas has seen a major surge in Flock camera deployments, with over 16,000 documented cameras statewide as of 2026. ALPR data is subject to standard PIA exemptions, primarily law enforcement investigation records.

Exemptions to watch for

These are the exemptions agencies most commonly invoke to deny surveillance records requests. Knowing them helps you anticipate and counter a denial.

  • Law enforcement investigation records (§ 552.108)
  • Information relating to litigation (§ 552.103)
  • Personal privacy (§ 552.101, constitutional right)
  • Endanger physical safety (§ 552.152)
  • Trade secrets and commercial information (§ 552.110)
  • Internal personnel records (§ 552.102)

Agencies in Texas

Houston Police Department
Houston active
Dallas Police Department
Dallas active

Generate a request letter

For Houston Police Department

When to use

You want to see what the cameras actually recorded — plates, vehicle descriptions, images, timestamps.

Generated letter
To: Records Access Officer From: [Your Name] Date: 2026-08-30 Subject: PIA Request — ALPR/Flock Safety Detection Data Dear Records Access Officer: Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act (Gov't Code Chapter 552), I request access to and copies of the following records: All automated license plate reader (ALPR) detection logs, images, and associated metadata captured by any ALPR device (including but not limited to Flock Safety cameras) operated by or on behalf of Houston Police Department during the following time period: Date: [Date] Time: [Start Time] to [End Time] __IF_LOCATION__Location: __USER_LOCATION__ This includes but is not limited to: license plate numbers, vehicle make/model/color, vehicle images, detection timestamps, camera identification numbers, and any alerts generated. I request that records be provided in electronic format where available. If fulfilling this request will cost more than $25, please provide a written itemized estimate before proceeding. I expect a prompt response as required by the Public Information Act. If you believe any requested information is excepted from disclosure, you must request an Attorney General ruling within ten business days per \xA7 552.301. Thank you for your assistance. [Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Email]