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." The order applies to the state highway right-of-way and does not directly affect cameras on local roads or private property, where the vast majority of the devices operate. However, the state's action has triggered a wave of shutdowns across Florida. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced it would discontinue all license plate reader technology throughout Duval County, effective immediately. Sheriff T.K.