Register for free to manage your followed authors and newsletters in one place.
Sign in to load the authors you follow. ' +
'Sign in
You are not following any authors yet. ' +
'Use the follow buttons on stories or staff pages to build your list.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, responding to a growing backlash over Flock cameras, has ordered the pole-mounted license plate readers to be removed from all state roads.
The Florida Department of Transportation revoked all permits Monday for license plate readers, most of them owned and operated by Atlanta-based Flock Safety, from the right-of-way of state roads.
State officials said the devices must be removed within 30 days.
The move came less than a week after Mr. DeSantis echoed the concerns of Florida residents who complained the cameras, powered by artificial intelligence, go too far in monitoring the public and are being used in some cases for nefarious reasons by rogue police officers and others.
“I’m all about law enforcement having the tools to be able to hold criminals accountable,” Mr. DeSantis said last week during a press conference at Florida International University. “But I don’t want to have this become a surveillance state.”
Mr. DeSantis called for a legislative overhaul of the law governing the use of the cameras, which number in the thousands in Florida.
“I think these cameras, these license plate readers, I think it’s out of control,” he said.
The move in Florida came a day after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott banned the use of state funds to help local law enforcement lease the Flock cameras.
In Florida, local law enforcement said they would comply with the order, even though the cameras help them fight crime.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Monday evening it would remove the Flock cameras installed by law enforcement throughout the city, not just from state roads.
“Given the decision made at the state level and the concerns expressed by members of our community, I have determined that discontinuing the use of this technology is the appropriate course of action at this time,” Sheriff T.K. Waters said.
In Nassau County, located in Northeast Florida, the state directive will result in the removal of 34 cameras now perched on state roads and used by law enforcement.
Source: Read the original article on www.washingtontimes.com
