The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has announced that it will discontinue the use of Automatic License Plate Readers throughout Duval County, effective immediately. This comes after the Florida Department of Transportation issued the directive, revoking existing approvals for ALPR systems along roads in the State Highway System.
There has been significant opposition to ALPRs, particularly Flock Safety’s plate readers, amid concerns over privacy and the potential misuse of the technology. These concerns have grown amid reports of law enforcement officers using the technology to stalk citizens and track people through unofficial means. There have also been reported instances in which Flock cameras incorrectly flagged a citizen’s vehicle as belonging to a crime suspect, leading officers to draw their guns during traffic stops.
In response to growing concerns over the technology, Florida has directed law enforcement agencies to remove license plate readers from state highway rights-of-way. While the directive does not amount to a statewide ban on ALPR technology, some police departments have nevertheless indicated that they may move away from using the technology altogether, according to a report by Carscoops.
However, the order applies only to equipment installed on state highway rights-of-way and does not affect ALPR cameras operating on city or county roads with local authorization. Notably, the directive also extends beyond Flock Safety, as companies such as Axon and Motorola offer similar systems.
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“While Florida law limits the issuance of permits for LPR systems to law enforcement agencies, the recent exponential increase in deployments along our roadways, coupled with concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes merit immediate action,” FDOT Chief Operating Officer Will Watts wrote in the memorandum.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Issues Compliance Statement
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released a statement on X, announcing that it will fully comply with FDOT’s directive. In addition, it will stop using LPR technology throughout Duval County. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters stated:
“As the elected Sheriff of Duval County, it is my responsibility to listen to the concerns of our citizens and act accordingly.
“Today, the Florida Department of Transportation announced the revocation of the permits and licenses it provided to law enforcement agencies for the use of license plate reader (LPR) technology on state roads. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will fully comply with FDOT’s directive.
“Additionally, at my direction, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will discontinue the use of LPR technology throughout Duval County effective immediately.
“LPR technology has proven to be an enormously valuable investigative tool, assisting our agency in solving serious crimes and locating missing and vulnerable individuals. However, given the decision made at the state level and the concerns expressed by members of our community, I have determined that discontinuing the use of this technology is the appropriate course of action at this time.
“The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office remains fully committed to providing the highest level of public safety services to the people of Jacksonville. We will continue to use every tool, resource, and technology available to prevent crime, solve cases, and protect our community.”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters shared this statement regarding license plate readers:
“As the elected Sheriff of Duval County, it is my responsibility to listen to the concerns of our citizens and act accordingly.
Today, the Florida Department of Transportation announced the…
— Jax Sheriff’s Office (@JSOPIO) August 31, 2026