Florida is shutting off the eyes watching its roads. On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered every Flock camera removed from state highways within 30 days. This was the plan. But here is the twist: the state is not just removing its own gear. Local counties are pulling their cameras off the roads too.
According to the Daily Signal, the Florida Department of Transportation sent a memo stating the deadline. The memo reads: "If such removal has not occurred within the 30-day period, the Department will remove any remaining devices subject to this memorandum." That is a hard line in the sand.
The order targets the state right-of-ways. It does not touch private property or local streets. Yet, the impact is already spreading. Jacksonville, Franklin, Walton, Okaloosa, Liberty, Putnam, and Calhoun counties are among those turning off cameras right now.
Why the sudden shift? Officials say the state must stop the surveillance creep. The department's memo cites a "recent exponential increase in deployments along our roadways." It also points to "concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes." The goal is to "preserve Florida's sovereignty and quality of life."
Gov. DeSantis previewed this move last week on Eric Bolling's podcast. He noted that 98% of Florida's roughly 8,000 automated license plate readers are run by local police, not the state. He promised that any state agencies "that had a few of them are bringing them down." He wants the roads clear.
Franklin County Sheriff AJ Smith told WJHG that most of his county's cameras were already on state roadways. So, the county turned those off immediately. They also shut down other systems. This shows the order has real teeth even before the 30-day clock runs out.
Flock cameras do more than read plates. They capture vehicle characteristics from millions of cars. This lets police search where specific vehicles have traveled. There are now more than 120,000 of these cameras deployed across the U.S. The tech is powerful. But the governor is worried about the data.
DeSantis questioned the limits of the tech. He asked: "These cameras that are out there now — who's to say they're only doing the license plate?" He believes the devices capture more than they admit. "Now, they say that. I think it's capturing people in their cars. I think it's capturing way more information than they're letting on. And you've seen the abuse."
The governor left one door open. He said: "We're going to clear the state right-of-ways." But he hinted the tech might stay for very targeted immigration enforcement. The rest goes dark.
This is a win for privacy in Florida. The state is drawing a line against mass tracking on public roads. Local leaders are listening. Sheriff Smith's quick action proves that the concern is shared across party lines. When the government stops watching every move, families can breathe easier.
The cameras are coming down. The 30-day clock is ticking.