Indian River County law enforcement agencies are preparing to remove license plate reader devices from state highways following a memorandum handed down by state officials.
The memo – issued Monday Aug. 31 by the Florida Department of Transportation – revoked permits for automated license plate reader devices on state highways after nationwide reports of misuse, data privacy concerns and surveillance schemes.
“I think these cameras…these license plate readers are out of control,” Gov. DeSantis said in an Aug. 27 news conference, days before the transportation department issued its memo impacting law enforcement agencies statewide.
Law enforcement agencies have 30 days to remove the devices. Transportation officials will remove any remaining cameras after the 30-day period, according to the memo.
Several law enforcement agencies, including the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, suspended the use of the Flock Safety system or similar tag reading programs pending guidance from the state. Law enforcement officials in Indian River County plan to follow suit.
Indian River Shores has two license plate readers on State Road A1A – one on the north end of the city and the other on the south end. Town Manager Jim Harpring said the city will remove the devices within the 30-day period.
“The memo is pretty clear and straightforward,” Harpring said.
A third camera, located on the historic Jungle Trail in the Shores, is not on the state highway, Harpring said.
The city of Sebatian has one license plate reader near U.S. 1 and Jackson Street on the north side of town. Sebastian police officials will have the camera taken down, said deputy chief Tim Wood.
Indian River County sheriff’s officials will also have license plate readers removed, said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. The number of license plate cameras managed by the sheriff’s office was not immediately available.
The city of Vero Beach has 10 license plate readers, but none are located on state highways, Officer Kelsea Marty said.
Officials with the Fellsmere Police Department were not immediately available for comment.
Sheriff Eric Flowers previously praised the Flock Safety license plate reader system, which he says helped deputies track a man suspected of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend in the Vero Beach area before fleeing to Virginia earlier this month.
The controversial tag-reading system had been raising concerns about privacy for years. There have also been growing reports of misuse of the system nationwide.
