Flock cameras are officially banned on state roads in Florida

Statewide Ban

Florida's Department of Transportation has officially banned police from placing license plate readers on state roads, according to a one-page memorandum from DOT Chief Operating Officer Will Watts. This decision marks an early example of state regulators responding to growing animus toward automatic license plate reader (ALPR) providers like Flock Safety.

Per the memorandum, permits for license plate readers are immediately revoked and police have within 30 days of August 31 to remove them from state roads. Florida's Department of Transportation says it will also "use its discretionary authority to cease the issuance of all future requests for LPR systems within its jurisdictional authority."

The ban was made at the behest of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who said in August 2026 that use of the technology was "out of control" in the state. Removing cameras from state roads is an attempt to address the problem, though changing DOT rules does not impact the 98 percent of ALPRs that remain installed on local roads and private property.

Company Context and Broader Impact

Automatic license plate readers have been around for decades - you may have encountered one running a stop light or using a toll road - and states have grown to rely on them for a wide variety of different law enforcement tasks. These include finding stolen vehicles or missing people, along with the more nebulous goal of developing leads in ongoing criminal investigations.

For example, a little over a week before Florida's ban, license plate readers were used to find a murder suspect who fled Florida for West Virginia. Flock, the ALPR company that has faced the most backlash in 2026, has extensive examples on its website showing how ubiquitous cameras can help states and cities handle tasks outside of police work, such as allowing firefighters to survey a fire before arriving on scene.

The core concern driving these actions is the perception of constant surveillance and documented instances of misuse. Flock has attempted to address these issues through software updates to its platform and policy changes that limit the amount of time it stores footage captured with its cameras. However, continued public outcry and ongoing vandalism of license plate readers appears to be finally provoking regulators to respond.

Jurisdictional Widespread Action

Beyond Florida, similar restrictions are emerging across multiple jurisdictions:

• Jacksonville and Okaloosa County Sheriffs: Both have committed to removing ALPRs from their jurisdictions.
• Los Angeles Police Department: Suspended its contract with Flock in July.
• Two Ohio Counties: Paused their use of Flock cameras due to reports of alleged misuse.
• Texas: Governor Greg Abbott paused funding for state agencies attempting to acquire Flock hardware.

These changes, while primarily focused on Flock specifically rather than license plate readers in general, signal a willingness among officials to consider different approaches to public safety. The pattern suggests a broader societal pushback against pervasive surveillance technologies, with multiple states and municipalities taking concrete steps to restrict or halt their deployment.