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Florida orders Flock cameras off of state roads
Orlando Sentinel • • nation
Key Points:
- Florida's Department of Transportation has ordered the removal of Flock and similar license-plate reader cameras from state roads within 30 days, citing concerns over misuse, data privacy, and surveillance.
- Law enforcement agencies argue these cameras are vital for crime-solving, with Orange County Sheriff John Mina warning that their removal would benefit criminals and harm public safety.
- Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the widespread use of these cameras as excessive surveillance, prompting cities like Oviedo to remove their cameras and halt funding amid public privacy concerns.
- Sheriffs in Volusia County and Jacksonville have also decided to take down their cameras following the state directive, while calling for clearer legislative guidelines to regulate their future use.
- The FDOT order targets cameras on state roads, which include major busy routes in Central Florida, though DeSantis has previously approved funding for similar cameras through immigration enforcement grants, with no immediate clarification on the status of those devices.
