Florida Pulls License Plate Cameras From State Roads

Drivers on Florida's state roads will no longer be tracked by police license plate cameras perched along the highway. The state Department of Transportation on Monday yanked all approvals for license plate readers on state-controlled land, citing a surge in camera use, privacy worries, and "surveillance schemes" it says threaten residents' autonomy, per NBC News. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday had pledged to "clear the state right-of-ways," arguing the cameras are "capturing way more information than they're letting on."

The move adds to mounting pushback against Flock Safety and similar systems nationwide. A USA Today investigation found at least 19 law enforcement officers in five states had allegedly used the cameras to improperly or illegally track vehicles over two months. Texas has cut off state funding, and more than 100 local governments have scrapped contracts. Florida's order doesn't touch cameras on private property or local roads, where most are installed, but Jacksonville's sheriff said his office is dropping the technology entirely. Flock calls the ban misguided, arguing its tools help solve crimes and locate missing people.