Florida to remove license plate readers from state highways

The Florida Department of Transportation on Monday revoked the ability of local police to put license plate readers on state highways. In a one-page memo, the department canceled previously issued approvals for the cameras within the state highway system. The department ordered local law enforcement to remove the license plate readers within the next 30 days, or the state government will take them down. The department said the decision stemmed from reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes involving the cameras. The department said it would deny any camera approval requests going forward.

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis promised to order limitations on the cameras. He believed that the readers captured more information than needed, like images of people in their cars, he remarked while talking on a podcast.

What’s the deal with the cameras? Law enforcement agencies across the United States have used license plate readers to record vehicles that pass by, intending to catch criminal suspects or develop leads in cases. Flock Safety, a company known for its license plate readers, has faced growing concern over misuse of its technology, with critics citing instances where law enforcement has abused it to stalk individuals.

In response, Flock has issued more restrictions around the use of its technology, such as requiring police officers to enter a criminal case number in order to access the network. While law enforcement may work around this in emergencies, the searches will be flagged for further review.

How has Flock responded to Florida’s order? Its technology was created to be a public safety tool, helping officers to solve crimes, find missing people, and recover stolen vehicles, a spokesman for Flock told WORLD. Rather than banning the cameras, thoughtful legislation and guardrails around its cameras could ensure their safe use, the spokesman said.

Did Florida’s order impact areas outside of state highways? The order only applies to the state highway system, not those on private property or on local rights-of-way. But some localities have planned to remove the cameras more broadly. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it would discontinue the use of license plate reader technology throughout its jurisdiction in Duval County. The area has around 1 million residents.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Black’s report on Sen. Josh Hawley’s investigation into Flock cameras.

— Editor’s note: This story has been changed to include additional information.