Florida officially bans license plate reader cameras from state roads

Florida's Department of Transportation (DOT) has officially prohibited police from placing automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras on state roads. The decision was outlined in a one-page memorandum issued by DOT Chief Operating Officer Will Watts.

The memo states that while Florida law restricts permits for ALPR systems to law enforcement agencies, the rapid increase in camera deployments along roadways, combined with reports of misuse and data privacy concerns, required immediate action to protect residents' sovereignty and quality of life.

Under the memorandum, all previously issued permits for license plate readers are revoked immediately, and police have 30 days from August 31 to remove the devices from state roads. The department also said it will stop processing any future requests for such systems within its jurisdiction.

The ban follows pressure from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who said in August 2026 that use of the technology had become "out of control" in the state. However, DeSantis acknowledged that changing DOT rules does not affect the roughly 98 percent of ALPR cameras installed on local roads and private property. Sheriffs in Jacksonville and Okaloosa County have separately pledged to remove the cameras from their own jurisdictions.

Automatic license plate readers have been used for decades, helping locate stolen vehicles, missing people, and leads in criminal investigations. Just over a week before Florida's ban, such cameras helped track down a murder suspect who had fled the state for West Virginia.

Flock Safety, the ALPR company that has faced the most criticism in 2026, has tried to address concerns through software updates and policies limiting how long footage is stored. Still, public backlash and vandalism of the cameras have continued. Beyond Florida, the Los Angeles Police Department suspended its contract with Flock in July, two counties in Ohio paused use of the cameras in August over alleged misuse, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott halted funding for state agencies seeking to acquire Flock equipment.