Documented Incident
Federal jury finds Bexar County deputies violated driver's Fourth Amendment rights in plate-reader stop
Event: March 1, 2022 · First reported: September 29, 2026 · 4 sources
A federal jury found that Bexar County violated Alek Schott's Fourth Amendment rights during a March 2022 traffic stop on Interstate 35 in which he was detained for 76 minutes. The deputy said on body camera that the stop was prompted by Schott drifting over the fog line; Schott's attorneys argued the stop stemmed from a broader system that used license plate reader data to flag drivers and then find a pretext to pull them over. A K-9 alerted on the vehicle, but a roughly 25-minute search turned up nothing. The jury awarded Schott $76, one dollar for each minute he was detained.
The verdict addresses a central civil-liberties question about ALPR networks: whether plate data can be used to select drivers for stops that are then justified on other grounds. Schott's attorneys are seeking an injunction, and the outcome could be cited by litigants challenging similar practices elsewhere.
Key facts
- Stop occurred in March 2022 on I-35 in southern Bexar County; Schott was detained 76 minutes.
- Federal jury awarded $76 in damages; Schott was represented by the Institute for Justice Texas Office.
- A K-9 alerted and deputies searched for about 25 minutes, finding nothing; Schott had refused consent to search.
- Schott's lawyers have asked the court for an injunction barring Bexar County from conducting similar stops and searches.
- The Bexar County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on pending litigation and referred questions to the district attorney's office, whose response was pending.
Timeline
- September 29, 2026Federal jury rules Bexar County violated driver’s rights in license plate reader stop
- October 5, 2026Jury rules Bexar County deputies unconstitutionally used license plate readers on Houston man
- October 6, 2026Jury Says Bexar County Used Flock Cameras to Make Unconstitutional Traffic Stops
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Federal jury rules Bexar County violated driver’s rights in license plate reader stop (WOAI, September 29, 2026)
- Jury Finds Bexar County Violated Driver’s Rights (stl.news, September 29, 2026)
- Jury rules Bexar County deputies unconstitutionally used license plate readers on Houston man (KSAT, October 5, 2026)
- Jury Says Bexar County Used Flock Cameras to Make Unconstitutional Traffic Stops (Gadget Review, October 6, 2026)
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About this record
BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.
Updated October 8, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.