Overview
- The Florida Department of Transportation revoked approvals for automated license‑plate readers on state highway rights‑of‑way and ordered agencies to remove devices within 30 days, saying it will remove any units that remain.
- Following the Aug. 31 memo, multiple county sheriffs and local agencies in Florida announced they would discontinue or power down Flock systems and other LPRs rather than risk state enforcement.
- The FDOT order applies only to the State Highway System and does not affect cameras on private property or most city and county roads, leaving large parts of existing networks in place.
- Flock Safety has announced mandatory Audit Assistance, required case‑code searches for most queries, and a default data retention cut from 30 days to seven days but critics say those changes do not fully address improper access, cross‑jurisdictional sharing, or enforcement gaps.
- The move follows widespread reporting and audits showing officer misuse, high false‑alert rates, and a rise in vandalism of cameras, and it could prompt new state legislation, further contract cancellations, and continued legal and procurement disputes.