Florida bans Flock cameras from state-controlled highways

The Florida Department of Transportation on Monday revoked permits for automated license-plat readers on state roads. 

The department granted agencies 30 days to remove the cameras, which includes those made by Flock, before the state takes them down, and permits for new cameras will no longer be granted, NOTUS reported. 

Will Watts, Florida Department of Transportation chief operating officer, wrote in a memo that the decision stems from the technology's rapid growth and concerns about how it's used. 

“While Florida law limits the issuance of permits for LPR systems to law enforcement agencies, the recent exponential increase in deployments along our roadways, coupled with concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes merit immediate action to preserve Floridians’ sovereignty and quality of life,” Watts wrote.