If you drive I-75 or I-10 regularly, you’ve probably noticed the small white cameras mounted on poles near overpasses. Those are Flock license plate readers, and they’re about to disappear from Florida’s state highway system. Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the Florida Department of Transportation to remove all of them within 30 days. The department has also been instructed to deny any future permits for these cameras on state right-of-ways. The order comes after concerns about privacy and a specific case where a Florida officer used the data to track an ex-girlfriend.
For Suncoast residents, the change is significant for long-distance travel, but it won’t affect your daily local drives just yet. The order only covers state roads. Cameras on city and county streets, including those managed by local sheriff’s offices, will remain in place. That means the cameras on roads near our beach communities or downtown areas could still be watching. DeSantis has called on lawmakers to address the issue next spring and make the ban permanent, which would extend to local roads.
Several counties are already ahead of the curve. Franklin, Liberty, and Putnam counties have ended their license plate reader programs entirely. The question now is whether other local agencies will follow suit or wait for the legislature to decide. Privacy advocates are celebrating the move, while law enforcement groups may push back, saying the cameras help solve crimes. We want to know: how do you feel about license plate readers on our roads? Are you relieved to see them go, or do you think this is a step backward for public safety?
