Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered Flock license plate cameras removed from Florida state highways, but the cameras are not necessarily going away from all local roads.
The Aug. 31 order gives local law enforcement agencies 30 days to remove automated license plate readers from state highways. But it does not require sheriffs to remove cameras from county or local roads. That decision is up to local agencies.
So far, Glades, Hendry and Okeechobee counties have not announced plans to stop using Flock cameras on roads that are not covered by the state order.
Glades County uses the technology on a much smaller scale than many larger Florida counties. As of September 2025, the Glades County Sheriff’s Office operated four Flock license plate readers.
The cameras take pictures of passing vehicles and record their license plates, along with information such as the vehicle’s make, model and color. Police can search the system when investigating crimes or looking for a wanted or missing person.
Supporters say the cameras have become an important tool for solving crimes. Critics worry that they allow the government to collect too much information about where people travel.
DeSantis said those privacy concerns were behind his decision. “What we don’t want in the state of Florida is to have a digital AI surveillance state where everything we’re doing is being tracked at all times,” DeSantis said.
The Florida Department of Transportation said it will no longer allow the cameras on state highway property. Agencies have 30 days to remove them. Cameras that remain after that could be removed by the state.
Sheriffs take different approaches
Some sheriffs say they will remove only the cameras covered by the state order and continue using the technology elsewhere.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw has called license plate readers an important public safety tool. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri has also defended the cameras, saying police cannot fight crime using outdated technology. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called Flock cameras the “single best tool” his agency has had to protect the public.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said his office will remove cameras from state roads as required but plans to keep cameras that are not covered by the order.
Other sheriffs are taking a different approach.
Bay, Holmes, Jackson and Okaloosa counties have announced plans to remove cameras from their jurisdictions. Sheriffs in those counties said the cameras were useful for fighting crime but also recognized concerns from residents about privacy.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced Aug. 31 that his county would end its automated license plate reader program.
Other counties that are ending their use of the cameras include Baker, Bradford, Calhoun, Duval, Franklin, Jefferson, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, Volusia and Wakulla. In some of those counties, all of the cameras were already on state roads, meaning the state order effectively ends their programs.
“I guarantee you every sheriff in Florida can point to examples where it’s been used appropriately and probably effectively. And I have no doubt that that’s the case. But you also have to say, okay, how could this be misused?” DeSantis said at Monday’s press conference.