Overview
- Florida transportation officials issued the directive on Monday, Aug. 31, revoking approvals for automated license‑plate readers installed in state highway rights‑of‑way and requiring removal within 30 days.
- Several local agencies quickly complied by shutting down or disconnecting cameras, with Putnam County, Duval County (Jacksonville), Volusia and other counties announcing immediate suspensions or removals.
- FDOT said it will physically remove any devices left after the deadline and will no longer approve future installations in the State Highway System, citing legal authority under Statute 316.0777.
- Law enforcement and vendors stressed the systems’ value in locating missing people and recovering stolen vehicles while Flock Safety announced new limits including mandatory Audit Assistance, required case codes for most searches, and a default data retention cut from 30 days to seven days.
- The order leaves a patchwork of local decisions, does not cover cameras on private property, and sets up likely legal fights and new legislation over how plate‑reading networks are governed and used by police.