FLORIDA — The Florida Department of Transportation revoked general use permits for automated license plate readers on state highways. Local law enforcement agencies must remove all automated license plate readers from state highways within 30 days.

Will Watts, chief operating officer of the Florida Department of Transportation, issued the memo to local law enforcement agencies. The department cited a "recent exponential increase in deployments" of license plate readers as a reason for the order. Officials also pointed to "concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes". The department stated the action is taken "to preserve Floridians’ sovereignty and quality of life." The Florida Department of Transportation is halting future requests for license plate reader placements on state roadways.

The Florida Department of Transportation will remove any remaining automated license plate reader devices from state highways after the 30-day period. The order applies only to cameras located in state highway rights-of-way and does not affect cameras on private property or local rights-of-way. Governor Ron DeSantis stated that 98% of surveillance cameras are located on local rights-of-way.

Two days before the memo, DeSantis said in a podcast interview, "We’re gonna clear the state right-of-ways." He questioned the scope of the technology, asking, "These cameras that are out there now — who’s to say they’re only doing the license plate?" DeSantis added, "Now, they say that. I think it’s capturing people in their cars. I think it’s capturing way more information than they’re letting on. And you’ve seen the abuse."

Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett directed staff to pause the Flock and Motorola License Plate Recognition programs. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office oversees approximately 70 license plate reader cameras across Hamilton County. "This directive, being weighed over several weeks, encompasses multiple factors that have contributed to this decision," Garrett said.

He identified the main driver, saying, "The primary factor is the tremendous concern regarding public data and potential misuse of what is captured." Garrett affirmed his support for the technology's intent. "As your elected Sheriff, I truly believe in LPR technology and its ability to combat criminal activity in Hamilton County and those criminals who are here to cause harm and turmoil," he said. He indicated the pause would remain until concerns were addressed. "At my direction, HCSO Command Staff will continue to work through factors of concern that led me to this decision to pause until I am confident that all areas of these concerns are addressed," Garrett said. He called for broader dialogue. "During this time, I call on our state and federal leaders to begin a conversation into what is best for our state, our country, and the protection of the citizens of Hamilton County," he said.

The Oviedo City Council ordered the immediate removal of Flock cameras during a work session. The council had approved a lease agreement with Flock for eight license plate readers in September 2025. All eight Flock cameras in Oviedo were installed by February 2026.

Edgewater police announced they are shutting down their license plate readers. Mayor Diezel DePew supported the move. "I believe this is a step in the right direction for protecting the privacy and constitutional rights of our residents," DePew said. He cited community input. "After hearing concerns from our constituents, we are listening," DePew said. He emphasized balancing safety and rights. "As we explore other public safety solutions for areas such as our parks, protecting both public safety and individual privacy must remain a priority," he said.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced his agency is removing license plate reader devices. A former Brevard County deputy resigned earlier in August 2026 after an investigation revealed he used Flock cameras to look up his ex-girlfriend's license plate. Ivey acknowledged existing safeguards but recognized broader issues.

"Even though our agency had strong policies in place to protect our citizens' right to privacy, I still understand the concern and, more importantly, the need for strict policies and laws that guarantee the protection of our citizens' rights across the entire state of Florida," Ivey said. Seminole County is temporarily suspending its license plate readers. The Sanford Police Department issued a temporary pause to license plate readers. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office stated they need more time to review the Florida Department of Transportation order. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it would discontinue the use of license plate reader technology throughout Duval County effective immediately. Duval County has 1 million residents.

Flock Safety defended the utility of its systems. A company spokesperson stated, "Flock’s technology is an important public safety tool for law enforcement agencies across Florida, helping officers solve serious crimes, find missing people, recover stolen vehicles, and support safer communities." The spokesperson showed recent successes. "In just the last few weeks in Florida, the technology was used to find missing children, led to the arrest of a murder suspect, and assisted in solving numerous other crimes," the spokesperson said.

The company advocated for regulation rather than prohibition. "Rather than banning a critical public safety tool, we support thoughtful legislation and strong privacy, transparency, and accountability guardrails that ensure technology is used responsibly while preserving law enforcement’s ability to use effective tools to keep people safe," the spokesperson said. Flock Safety reduced the default data retention period for movement data from one month to one week. The company stated it will do more to lock out users whose searches display abnormal activity. Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley announced measures including requiring customers to use an auditing tool to flag abnormal search behavior. Flock Safety stated it is giving cities and towns more control over data-sharing with other agencies.

Misuse incidents have occurred elsewhere. A Kentucky police officer was arrested last week for using the Flock system more than 2,000 times to track his ex-girlfriend. NBC News identified 50 areas across the United States where Flock cameras have been damaged, spray-painted, smashed, or cut down since 2024.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott froze state spending on Flock cameras last month. More than 100 local governments have canceled or not renewed their license plate reader contracts since the beginning of last year, according to the Institute for Justice. Communities including Lansing, Michigan; Tempe, Arizona; and Knox County, Tennessee, have ended Flock camera contracts. Pflugerville, Texas, canceled its Flock contract after a records request found outside agencies searched its data 1.6 million times. The Transportation Department published notice titled "Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Transportation Project in State Florida" on 2026-08-31. The ACLU estimates that Flock Safety has installed about 120,000 license plate readers across the United States since its launch almost a decade ago.

Why It Matters

The revocation of permits affects the operational capacity of law enforcement agencies across Florida, particularly those relying on automated data for investigations. The order targets state highway rights-of-way, leaving local jurisdictions to determine the future of cameras on local roads and private property. This distinction creates a fragmented regulatory environment where surveillance capabilities may persist in some areas while disappearing from others. The rapid response from multiple sheriffs and municipal bodies indicates a shift in how local governments balance public safety tools with privacy concerns.

The decision aligns Florida with a broader national trend of scrutiny toward mass surveillance technologies. Actions in Texas, Kentucky, and various municipalities demonstrate growing unease with data retention and potential abuse. The involvement of high-profile misuse cases, such as the Kentucky officer and the Brevard County deputy, shows the risks associated with unrestricted access. As agencies pause or remove systems, questions remain about how criminal investigations will adapt without this data source and whether state legislation will further regulate local usage.

Timeline

The Oviedo City Council approved a lease agreement with Flock for eight license plate readers in September 2025.

DeSantis asked, "These cameras that are out there now — who’s to say they’re only doing the license plate?"

What's New

Later reporting clarified that Will Watts, chief operating officer of the Florida Department of Transportation, issued the memo to local law enforcement agencies. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood noted, "However, recent orders and statements from our governor and Department of Transportation have made it clear that license plate readers are no longer workable in Florida." He also stated, "License plate readers have helped us solve violent crimes, saved lives, found missing people, and recovered stolen property." Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said, "Even though our agency had strong policies in place to protect our citizens' right to privacy, I still understand the concern and, more importantly, the need for strict policies and laws that guarantee the protection of our citizens' rights across the entire state of Florida."

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the scale of license plate reader deployment.