Florida’s Department of Transportation issued a formal order on August 31, 2026, directing all agencies to remove Flock Safety automated license plate readers from state highway rights-of-way within 30 days. This order, known as Florida Orders Flock ALPRs Off State Highways in 2026, is grounded in Florida Statute 316.0777 and covers interstates, U.S. highways, and state roads but does not automatically ban the cameras on county roads or city streets. Agencies have until approximately September 30, 2026 to comply or FDOT will remove the devices at the agencies’ expense.
What Are Flock ALPRs and How Do They Work
Flock Safety is a private technology company that manufactures automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, widely used by law enforcement agencies across the United States. These cameras mount on poles alongside roads and capture high-resolution images of every passing vehicle, recording the license plate number, vehicle make, color, and any distinguishing features like bumper stickers or roof racks.
The captured data is uploaded in near real-time to a cloud database. Officers can search that database to locate vehicles connected to crimes, missing persons, or outstanding warrants. Flock’s system also sends automatic alerts when a flagged plate enters a camera’s field of view.
The technology’s appeal is obvious: it extends law enforcement reach without requiring an officer to be physically present. But that same reach is exactly what critics say makes it dangerous. Every vehicle passing a Flock camera is logged, regardless of whether the driver has done anything wrong. Over time, those logs build a detailed map of where people go, when they go there, and how often.
Why Is Florida Removing Flock Cameras From Highways
Florida’s FDOT cited three core reasons in its August 31, 2026 memorandum: an “exponential increase” in ALPR deployments across the state, “concerning reports of misuse,” and broad data-privacy and surveillance concerns [1][7]. The department framed the order as protecting “Floridians’ sovereignty and quality of life.”
Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly warned against what he calls an “AI surveillance state,” and the FDOT order fits squarely within that framing [3][9]. The concern isn’t just theoretical. When hundreds of cameras log millions of plate reads every day, the resulting dataset becomes a powerful surveillance tool, one that can reveal sensitive details about people’s lives, including visits to medical facilities, places of worship, or political events.
The order also reflects a growing unease among law enforcement leaders themselves. Some sheriffs have said they’re not comfortable holding that much sensitive data on residents who haven’t been accused of anything.
“The exponential increase in deployments and concerning reports of misuse made immediate action necessary to protect Floridians.” — FDOT Memorandum No. 26-01 [1]
When Exactly Are Flock ALPRs Being Removed From Florida
The FDOT order was issued on August 31, 2026, and gives agencies a 30-day window to remove devices from state highway rights-of-way. That means the deadline falls around September 30, 2026 [3][5][8].
Any cameras still in place after that date will be removed by FDOT, and the cost of removal falls on the requesting agency, not the state. FDOT has also stated it will deny all new permit applications for ALPR cameras on state rights-of-way going forward [1][5].
The 30-day timeline is firm. Agencies were not given a grace period or an appeals process within the memo itself.
How Many Flock Cameras Are Currently on Florida Roads
Approximately 700 Flock Safety cameras are installed on Florida’s state road system and are directly affected by the FDOT order [3][4]. That number reflects only state-maintained roads. The total number of Flock cameras across all Florida jurisdictions, including county and city roads, is significantly higher.
Nassau County alone had 34 cameras on state roads that must come down under the directive [3][4]. Multiply that across Florida’s 67 counties and dozens of municipalities, and the full scope of the state’s ALPR infrastructure becomes clear.
What Privacy Concerns Led to Florida Banning Flock ALPRs
The FDOT memo doesn’t just cite vague privacy worries. It points to a specific pattern: the rapid, largely unregulated expansion of ALPR networks combined with documented cases of misuse [1][7]. Civil liberties advocates have long argued that mass license plate tracking creates a de facto surveillance system with almost no oversight.
Key concerns include:
- Data retention: Flock systems store plate reads for extended periods, creating historical movement records on millions of innocent people.
- Data sharing: Flock’s platform allows agencies to share data with other law enforcement agencies, sometimes across state lines, without clear public disclosure.
- Lack of judicial oversight: Unlike a wiretap or a search warrant, placing a camera on a public road requires no court approval.
- Potential for misuse: Databases of movement data can be accessed by individual officers, raising the risk of stalking, harassment, or politically motivated surveillance [2][9].
Critically, the FDOT order does not require agencies to delete the data already collected. That means the historical records remain intact even after the hardware comes down [2][8].
Which Florida Cities and Counties Are Affected by the Flock ALPR Removal
The FDOT order directly affects every agency that has Flock cameras on state-maintained roads, which includes interstates, U.S. routes, and Florida state roads [3][5][6]. But the ripple effects have gone much further.
More than two dozen of Florida’s 67 counties have decided to remove all their Flock cameras, including those on local roads, going beyond what the state requires [2]. Among the agencies that have announced they will cease using ALPRs altogether:
- Bay County Sheriff’s Office
- Panama City Beach Police Department
- Duval County (Jacksonville) Sheriff’s Office
- Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
- Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
- Volusia County Sheriff’s Office
- Escambia County Sheriff’s Office [2][3][7]
More than 50 cities and counties are canceling or reconsidering their contracts with Flock Safety entirely [2][9]. This represents a significant shift in how Florida’s law enforcement community views the technology.
Did Flock ALPRs Help Reduce Crime in Florida
Some agencies credit Flock cameras with real results. Law enforcement officials in several Florida counties have cited the technology in solving vehicle thefts, locating missing persons, and identifying suspects in violent crimes [1][2]. The cameras’ ability to instantly flag a stolen vehicle or an Amber Alert subject is genuinely useful.
But the evidence on broader crime reduction is more complicated. There’s no statewide data showing that ALPR deployment consistently lowers crime rates overall. The technology is reactive, helping solve crimes after the fact, rather than preventive in the way that, say, community policing or social investment can be.
The honest answer is that Flock cameras are a useful investigative tool in specific circumstances, but they come with significant civil liberties costs that Florida officials have now decided outweigh the benefits on state roads.
How Much Did Florida Spend on Flock ALPR Technology
Exact statewide spending figures on Flock contracts have not been consolidated in a single public document. Individual agency contracts vary widely based on the number of cameras and the length of the agreement. The cost of removal from state roads falls on the agencies themselves, not FDOT [1][5][8].
What is clear is that more than 50 cities and counties are now reconsidering contracts, suggesting the financial exposure across Florida is substantial [2][9]. Agencies that cancel contracts mid-term may face early termination fees depending on their agreement terms.
Can Local Florida Police Departments Still Use Flock Cameras
Yes, for now. The FDOT order applies only to state highway rights-of-way. Local agencies can continue operating Flock cameras on county roads, city streets, and private property unless they independently choose to stop [3][5][6][8].
That distinction matters. A camera that sat on a state road must come down. A camera one block away on a city street is unaffected by this order. Many agencies are using this moment to reconsider their entire ALPR programs, but they are not legally required to do so by the FDOT memo alone.
The more significant question is what happens next in Tallahassee. Commentators note that broader statewide limits on ALPR technology could be debated in the 2027 legislative session [5][8]. If the legislature acts, local exemptions may narrow considerably.
What Will Replace Flock ALPRs on Florida Highways, and Is This Ban Permanent
FDOT has not announced a specific replacement technology for highway surveillance. The memo focuses on removal, not substitution [1][7]. Traditional law enforcement tools, including patrol officers, traffic cameras operated under existing state programs, and BOLO alerts, remain available.
As for permanence: the FDOT order revokes all existing permits and bars new ones on state rights-of-way going forward, which makes it functionally permanent under current policy [5][8]. However, a future administration could reverse that policy, and the 2027 legislative session could either codify the ban into law or, alternatively, create a regulated framework that allows some ALPR use to return under stricter oversight.
This is not a closed chapter. It’s the opening of a larger debate.
What Other States Have Banned or Removed Flock ALPRs
Florida’s action is among the most sweeping state-level moves against Flock cameras in the country, but it’s not entirely alone. Several states and municipalities have debated or enacted limits on ALPR data retention and sharing. Some jurisdictions have passed laws requiring warrants for extended data access or capping how long plate data can be stored.
No other state has issued a directive of this scale specifically targeting Flock Safety hardware on state roads, making Florida’s order a notable national precedent. Civil liberties organizations and technology policy advocates are watching closely to see whether other states follow.
FAQ
What is FDOT Memorandum No. 26-01?
It is the Engineering and Operations Memorandum issued by Florida’s Department of Transportation on August 31, 2026, revoking all general-use permits for automated license plate readers on Florida’s state highway rights-of-way and ordering their removal within 30 days.
Does the Florida order ban Flock cameras statewide?
No. The order applies only to state-maintained roads, including interstates, U.S. highways, and Florida state roads. Local agencies can still use Flock cameras on county and city roads unless they independently choose to remove them.
What is the deadline for removing Flock cameras from Florida state roads?
Agencies have approximately 30 days from August 31, 2026, making the deadline around September 30, 2026.
Will previously collected license plate data be deleted?
The FDOT order does not require deletion of existing data. Historical plate reads collected before the removal remain in agency databases unless individual agencies choose to purge them.
Who pays for removing the cameras?
The cost of removal falls on the requesting agency, not FDOT. If an agency fails to remove its cameras by the deadline, FDOT will remove them and charge the agency.
Can Flock Safety continue operating in Florida?
Flock Safety can continue serving local agencies on non-state roads. The company’s operations in Florida are significantly affected, but not entirely eliminated, by this order.
Why are some counties removing cameras beyond what the state requires?
More than two dozen counties have decided to pull all their Flock cameras, including those on local roads, citing privacy concerns, legal uncertainty, and a broader reassessment of the technology’s costs and benefits.
Could Florida reverse this decision?
Yes. The FDOT order is an administrative action, not a statute. A future administration could reverse it. Alternatively, the 2027 legislature could either codify the ban or create a regulated framework for ALPR use.
What legal authority does FDOT use to remove the cameras?
FDOT cites Florida Statute 316.0777 as the legal basis for revoking permits and halting new approvals on state highway rights-of-way.
Is this part of a national trend?
Yes. Florida’s order reflects a growing national debate over AI surveillance, data privacy, and the regulation of law enforcement technology. Civil liberties advocates and policymakers in multiple states are watching Florida’s move closely.
Conclusion
Florida’s directive to remove Flock ALPRs from state highways this September is more than a bureaucratic memo. It’s a signal that even in a state not typically associated with progressive civil liberties policy, the unchecked expansion of AI surveillance has reached a tipping point.
The order affects roughly 700 cameras on state roads, but its real impact is the conversation it’s forcing across all 67 Florida counties. More than 50 jurisdictions are reconsidering their Flock contracts. Major sheriffs’ offices are suspending programs entirely. And the 2027 legislative session could bring statewide rules that go much further.
For residents across Florida and beyond, including communities in upstate New York and the Mohawk Valley who face similar debates about surveillance technology in their own backyards, this story is a reminder that public pressure and government accountability can move the needle on technology policy.
What you can do:
- Contact your local law enforcement agency and ask whether they use ALPR technology, what data they collect, how long they keep it, and who they share it with.
- Attend a town hall or city council meeting and ask your representatives where they stand on surveillance technology and data privacy.
- Support organizations working on digital privacy and government transparency at the state and local level.
- Stay informed as the 2027 Florida legislative session approaches. Broader statewide ALPR restrictions are a real possibility, and public input will matter.
Government transparency and the right to move through your community without being tracked aren’t partisan issues. They’re foundational ones.
References
[1] Story – https://abcnews.com/US/florida-remove-flock-cameras-state-highway-roads/story?id=136118376
[2] tallahassee – https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/state/2026/09/01/which-florida-counties-are-removing-flock-cameras-desantis-sheriffs-office/91559522007/
[3] Gov Desantis Orders 700 Flock 160955623 – https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/gov-desantis-orders-700-flock-160955623.html
[4] Desantis Bans Flock Cameras State Roads Florida – https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/31/desantis-bans-flock-cameras-state-roads-florida/
[5] Gov Desantis Set Remove Flock Cameras State Roadways – https://www.wctv.tv/2026/08/31/gov-desantis-set-remove-flock-cameras-state-roadways/
[6] wesh – https://www.wesh.com/article/license-plate-readers-removed-from-state-roads-fdot/73572906
[7] Fdot Orders Removal Of License Plate Readers From State Right Of Ways Highways – https://weartv.com/news/local/fdot-orders-removal-of-license-plate-readers-from-state-right-of-ways-highways
[8] Flock Cameras Broward Palm Beach Fdot Order – https://thefriendlyscoop.com/news/flock-cameras-broward-palm-beach-fdot-order
[9] foxbusiness – https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6404485363112
