Florida Bans License Plate Readers on State Highways
Florida’s Department of Transportation has ordered the immediate removal of all automated license plate readers from state highways, citing an exponential surge in surveillance technology. The directive requires all existing camera permits to be revoked within 30 days, effectively halting the expansion of monitoring systems across the state’s road network.
The agency’s memo points to growing alarm over potential data privacy violations and reports of systemic misuse. By stopping future placement requests, the state is taking a hard line against what officials describe as unchecked surveillance schemes. This regulatory shift follows Governor Ron DeSantis’s recent criticism of the devices, which he publicly characterized as being out of control.
Florida joins a burgeoning national pushback against automated monitoring. Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently froze state spending on similar hardware, while local governments in Lansing, Tempe, and Knox County have terminated their contracts with providers like Flock Safety. The decision marks a significant retreat for the widespread deployment of plate-tracking technology on public infrastructure.
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