ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation is revoking permits for automated license plate-reading cameras installed by local law enforcement agencies along state roads, citing concerns about misuse, privacy and surveillance.
In a memorandum issued Monday, FDOT said all existing approvals for license plate recognition systems in state rights-of-way are revoked.
Agencies that currently have the cameras installed will have 30 days to remove them. FDOT said it will remove any devices that remain after that deadline.
RELATED: Oviedo officials set to grill Flock Safety reps during Monday meeting
The department is also immediately stopping approval of all future requests to install license plate readers within its jurisdiction.
FDOT said the rapid growth of the technology, combined with “concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes,” prompted the action.
The memo comes amid growing scrutiny of automated license plate readers, including systems operated by companies such as Flock Safety.
The cameras allow law enforcement agencies to capture and search license plate information as vehicles travel through an area. Police departments have defended the technology as a tool for solving crimes, while critics have raised concerns about how the information is stored, shared and accessed.
The announcement also comes as the Oviedo City Council is preparing to question Flock Safety representatives about the city’s use of license plate-reading cameras and how other agencies can access information collected by them.
FDOT said nothing in the new policy prevents the department from immediately removing an individual camera if it creates an unsafe condition.
Jacksonville sheriff ends LPR use countywide
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Monday it will comply with FDOT’s directive and is also discontinuing the use of license plate reader technology throughout Duval County effective immediately.
Sheriff T.K. Waters said the technology has been a valuable investigative tool used to help solve serious crimes and locate missing and vulnerable people.
But Waters said that, given the state’s decision and concerns raised by the community, ending the technology’s use was the appropriate step.
Volusia sheriff shuts down license plate readers immediately
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Monday his agency is shutting down its license plate readers effective immediately.
Chitwood said the technology has helped deputies solve violent crimes, find missing people and recover stolen property, but said recent action from Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Transportation has made continued use of the systems unworkable.
He also acknowledged what he called legitimate concerns about privacy, technology and data sharing.
Chitwood said the agency will not resume use unless lawmakers provide clearer statewide rules governing the technology.
“The LPR has been an incredible tool for public safety,” Chitwood said. “But until we have clarity, guidance and a legal framework from the Florida Legislature regarding this technology, it’s no longer a tool we can use.”
That gives your story a much better Central Florida angle: Volusia County is not just removing cameras from state rights-of-way — the sheriff is shutting down LPR use countywide.
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office suspends use of Flock camera network
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has suspended its use of the Flock camera network, citing growing concerns about privacy, governance and the future of automated license plate reader programs in Florida.
The sheriff’s office said the technology has been a valuable investigative tool, helping deputies and detectives with more than 800 investigations since mid-2021. Officials said the system also contributed to more than 530 arrests and helped locate 34 missing or endangered people.
Despite those results, the agency said recent actions by jurisdictions across Florida and guidance from the Florida Department of Transportation have created uncertainty about the future of the technology.
Sheriff’s officials said they support establishing statewide standards governing how license plate reader systems are used, including rules for data access, retention, auditing, and penalties for misuse.
The suspension will remain in place while lawmakers and law enforcement agencies work toward a clearer legal framework for the technology’s use in Florida.
The sheriff’s office said it will continue working with the Florida Sheriffs Association and state leaders on proposed legislation aimed at balancing public safety and privacy concerns.
Titusville police pause Flock license plate reader program
The Titusville Police Department has temporarily paused its Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program through Flock following recent developments involving the camera network and the Florida Department of Transportation’s decision to revoke permits for license plate readers located in FDOT rights-of-way.
Police said several of Titusville’s Flock cameras are located within FDOT rights-of-way. Officials noted the move does not affect the city’s School Zone Speed Enforcement Program.
The department said the ALPR system has been an important investigative tool, helping officers solve crimes, make arrests, locate missing people, recover stolen property and remove firearms from the streets.
In July, Interim Chief Tyler Wright ordered a review of the department’s ALPR policy and directed staff to compare it with guidance and best practices from law enforcement organizations and civil liberties groups. Officials said they have also been working on changes aimed at strengthening privacy protections and accountability.
During the pause, police will finalize policy revisions and other safeguards before presenting the changes to the Titusville City Council. City leaders and the department will then determine whether the program should resume.
“This is a temporary operational pause that allows us to take a deeper look at the program, strengthen our policies and safeguards, and ensure that any future use of ALPR technology reflects both effective public safety practices and our responsibility to maintain the public’s trust,” Wright said.
Sanford police suspend use of Flock camera network amid statewide uncertainty
The Sanford Police Department has suspended its use of the Flock camera network as questions continue across Florida about the future regulation of automated license plate reader technology.
Police said ALPR systems have been used for years to help officers solve crimes, identify suspects, and locate missing or endangered people. Officials described the technology as a valuable investigative tool when used with appropriate safeguards.
However, the department said growing concerns about privacy, data access, retention policies, and oversight, combined with recent actions by the Florida Department of Transportation and other jurisdictions across the state, have created uncertainty about the future of ALPR programs.
As a result, Sanford police said they will temporarily stop using the Flock camera network while state leaders consider a broader regulatory framework.
The department said it supports statewide legislation that would establish clear standards for how ALPR technology is used, including rules for data access, retention, accountability, auditing, transparency, and penalties for misuse.
Police emphasized that the suspension is not a reflection of the technology’s effectiveness, but rather a temporary measure until clearer statewide guidelines are established.
“Public safety and individual privacy do not have to be competing interests,” the department said in a statement.
The Sanford Police Department said it hopes lawmakers will address the issue during the upcoming legislative session and provide consistent standards for agencies across Florida.
Oviedo City Council votes to remove Flock cameras, end funding for program
The Oviedo City Council took decisive action at a budget work session Monday night, directing city staff not to carry forward funding for any Flock camera contract heading into the next fiscal year. They simultaneously directed the Oviedo Police Department to begin taking down Flock cameras within city limits.
The decision came after hours of spirited public comment and in-depth discussion between council members and a representative from Flock. That representative, Karl Bach, asserted that the cameras’ data was safe, secure, and fell within the control of the Oviedo Police Department.
However, some council members, including Deputy Mayor Natalie Teuchert, raised concerns that even with safeguards put in place by Oviedo Police Chief Dale Coleman to prevent any misuse by law enforcement officers in the department, access by neighboring agencies within OPD’s network would not be subject to the same regulations.
Members of the public spoke overwhelmingly in opposition to the cameras in Oviedo, citing concerns about misuse by law enforcement officers, over-policing, mistaken identity, and their constitutional rights under the 4th Amendment. One Oviedo resident, a retired police chief, spoke in support of the camera’s presence, regarding it as an important investigative tool. Ultimately, the council agreed to not include Flock in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, and when asked when to begin taking the cameras in Oviedo down, Mayor Megan Sladek firmly stated; “Now”.
Police Chief Dale Coleman said he was “disappointed” by what he said was a tool that helped his officers solve robberies and even missing persons cases, but that it “wasn’t unexpected.” Karl Bach, the representative for Flock, left immediately after the meeting and was unavailable for comment.
Altamonte Springs police suspend Flock camera network
The Altamonte Springs Police Department has suspended its use of the Flock camera network, joining several other Florida law enforcement agencies that have recently paused or ended their participation in the automated license plate reader program.
Police said ALPR technology has been used in Altamonte Springs for more than a decade to help solve crimes, recover stolen vehicles, locate missing people and identify dangerous suspects.
The department pointed to several recent cases in which the technology played a key role, including helping detectives locate a man suspected of killing his wife in less than two hours, assisting in the recovery of a woman who had been kidnapped and beaten, and identifying a Georgia fugitive wanted for an aggravated sexual offense.
Despite those successes, officials said they understand concerns about privacy, data retention, information sharing and potential misuse of the technology.
The suspension comes as the Florida Department of Transportation takes action involving Flock cameras located within state road rights-of-way and as agencies across Florida reevaluate their use of the system.
Altamonte Springs police said they support legislation that would establish statewide standards governing how ALPR data is accessed, shared, retained and audited, while preserving the technology’s use for legitimate public safety purposes.
The department said maintaining public trust is critical and that a clear statewide framework would help ensure consistent rules regardless of where residents live or which law enforcement agency operates the technology.
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