Florida Revokes Highway License Plate Reader Permits

The Florida Department of Transportation on Monday revoked all permits for automated license plate readers on state highways, ordering their removal within 30 days in a move that has prompted several local law enforcement agencies to voluntarily dismantle their own systems. The directive, issued in a memo from Chief Operating Officer Will Watts, cites a recent exponential increase in camera deployments, coupled with reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes, as justification for the immediate action to "preserve Floridians' sovereignty and quality of life.