Florida’s Department of Transportation is revoking permits that allow local law enforcement to operate automated license plate readers, including Flock-branded systems, on roads in the state highway system. The state transportation office removes the authorization for placing these devices on state highways.
The move follows growing backlash over automated plate-reading technology. NBC News and Business Insider both report that Florida is taking steps to prevent continued use of these cameras on state highways by rescinding the ability to deploy them there under state permits. While both outlets focus on the permit revocations, NBC News frames the action as the state undoing permission granted to local police, whereas Business Insider emphasizes the order to remove the cameras from the highways.
The affected devices are part of broader automated surveillance systems used by law enforcement. By limiting where they can be deployed—specifically on state highways—Florida shifts operational authority from local placement on the state road network to restrictions set by the state transportation agency.
