As Florida law enforcement agencies remove automated license plate readers from state rights-of-way following a state directive, St. Lucie County officials discovered 11 mysterious Flock cameras with no clear ownership, highlighting ongoing tensions over municipal surveillance and data privacy across the state.
Florida’s push to clear license plate readers off state highways has triggered a scramble among local agencies, unexpected equipment discoveries, and a sharp divide over public safety technology. The Washington Post reported that St. Lucie County initially believed it operated 52 Flock safety cameras, only to find 66 devices mounted in the field as removal deadlines arrived. While the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office claimed three of the unaccounted-for units, another 11 devices remain an open question regarding who installed them, whether they are active, and who holds access to their data streams.
State Order Forces License Plate Readers Off Highways While Ticket Cameras Expand
The sudden equipment audit stems from a statewide directive issued on Aug. 31, 2026.
Under Section 316.0777 of the Florida Statutes, state-permitted plate readers must be removed within 30 days once the department tells the agency to pull them. Yet the crackdown drew a clear line between tracking and billing. While tracking hardware mounted on state poles came down, ticketing infrastructure such as red-light cameras, school-zone speed units, and stop-arm bus cameras continues to expand across local roads. State figures show that school-zone systems alone generated hundreds of thousands of violation notices in their first full year, with fines split among local programs, state funds, and school districts. According to the latest program report from the state highway safety department, 493 cameras operated by 38 jurisdictions issued 1,013,761 violation notices in fiscal 2023-24, with roughly 627,000 of those paid. A preliminary summary for FY 2024-25 indicated that in the program’s first full year, 646 cameras across 34 jurisdictions generated 645,104 notices.
Law Enforcement Pushback and Privacy Debates Across Florida Communities
The state’s order divided local leaders and law enforcement executives. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri defended the technology during a press conference, noting that Pinellas has used automated license plate readers for 20 years and arguing that the devices remain vital for solving crimes. Sheriff Gualtieri acknowledged nonetheless that accountability and stricter guardrails are necessary following recent arrests of deputies for misusing the database. Other high-profile Florida sheriffs, including Polk County’s Grady Judd, stated they would continue to use the cameras while complying with the ban on state right-of-way.
In contrast, residents and advocacy groups urged local councils to enact total bans. During public comment at a Port St. Lucie City Council meeting, Port St. Lucie resident James Reynolds addressed the council, telling members the city had previously achieved its public safety goals without Flock cameras. Dr. Steven Greer also addressed the council during the proceedings, stating that he has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, Mayor Shannon Martin, and Flock.
Port St. Lucie officials subsequently confirmed that 18 cameras located in county and state rights-of-way were slated for removal by the vendor by Sept. 30. St. Lucie County commissioners also voted 3-2 to halt new permits on county-controlled property, review existing permits, and issue removal notices where appropriate.
Unresolved Equipment Deadlines and Next Steps for Disputed Hardware
In St. Lucie County, the 11 unidentified cameras remain mounted in place while officials post formal removal notices on the hardware. The county gave owners a deadline through mid-October to pull the disputed units down before reaching out directly to Flock Safety for assistance in identifying the operators.
Vendor representatives indicated they have contacted county officials and remain willing to review the contested equipment. As October begins, agencies statewide face the ongoing task of auditing their physical footprints to ensure full compliance with the transportation department's mandate while resolving remaining legal questions over private property installations and local camera networks.
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