The Florida Department of Transportation announced it is revoking all permits and licenses provided to law enforcement agencies to use license-plate readers on state roads.
Officials with the JSO revealed the news on Monday, with Sheriff T.K. Waters explaining that his agency will “fully comply with FDOT’s directive.”
News 6 later obtained a copy of the FDOT memo, which confirmed the revocation and gave law enforcement agencies 30 days to remove the readers.
“To that end, nothing in this memorandum prevents or restricts the Department from immediately removing any individual LPR device that is an immediate safety concern or that is causing an unsafe condition,” the memo reads.
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Sheriff Waters also stated that his agency would stop using license plate readers “effective immediately.”
“LPR technology has proven to be an enormously valuable investigative tool, assisting our agency in solving serious crimes and locating missing and vulnerable individuals,” Waters stated. “However, given the decision made at the state level and the concerns expressed by members of our community, I have determined that discontinuing the use of this technology is the appropriate course of action at this time.”
The sheriff’s offices in Volusia and Jefferson counties similarly revealed they have taken down their license-plate readers to comply with the directive.
News 6 spoke with Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood, who has been one of the more outspoken proponents of the technology, about the order Monday.
He said he is disappointed, but understands some of the well-documented privacy concerns.
“If you’re a criminal, you won tonight,” he told reporters. “If you’re a law-abiding citizen who has nothing to worry about, and you were a victim of a crime, you got something to worry about.”
He added that the legislature should come together with leaders on both sides of the issue to create more guardrails.
“This blanket order, you threw the baby out with the bathwater,” he said, adding that he felt “blindsided” by the FDOT memo.
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood’s statement on the decision is as follows:
“Effective immediately, we are shutting down License Plate Readers in Volusia County.
This is not a decision I take lightly. LPRs have helped us solve violent crimes, saved lives, found missing people, and recovered stolen property.
However, recent orders and statements from our Governor and Department of Transportation have made it clear that LPRs are no longer workable in Florida.
Recently, they have come under intense criticism. Some of that criticism is based on legitimate concerns about privacy, technology, and data sharing. In my opinion, a lot of the criticism has been based on half truths, outright lies, and bad actors who have destroyed a valuable tool for the rest of us.
LPRs helped us catch a home invader from Atlanta who shot 2 people in their bed at 3 a.m. in Deltona, then fled to Detroit. We have arrested murderers, armed robbers, burglars, road-rage shooters, hit-and-run drivers, sex offenders and child predators, all thanks to LPR data. They helped us recover missing and endangered children, seniors, even stolen horses before they could be harmed.
The LPR has been an incredible tool for public safety. 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.
Make no mistake, there will be an impact on crime and public safety. I’m sure there are criminals who will be celebrating this post along with the critics. I still hold out hope that our lawmakers can reach a consensus on LPR guardrails, regulations and accountability measures that protect individual rights while preserving a resource that solves crime and saves lives.”
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood
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Altamonte Springs is the latest Central Florida city to put a pause on Flock cameras
The agency released a statement calling the cameras a valuable tool, pointing to a case just last week in which the technology helped detectives track down a man accused of murdering his wife in less than two hours. Officials also say the cameras helped locate a woman who had been beaten and kidnapped, as well as a sex crime suspect found near two schools.
Like other agencies across the region, the Altamonte Springs department is calling on state lawmakers to step in and establish uniform requirements for how the cameras are used — a move officials say could help restore public confidence in the technology.
Meanwhile, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey also revealed that he would be suspending use of these cameras. He released a video statement, which can be found below:
News 6 reached out to Flock Safety for a comment on FDOT’s directive. The company’s statement is as follows:
“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.
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.
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.”