Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis revealed that some Flock Safety license plate reader cameras will be coming down in the Sunshine State.
“Our agencies that had a few of them are bringing them down. We’re going to clear the state right-of-ways,” DeSantis told Eric Bolling on Friday, according to Florida Politics.
'We're going to clear the state right-of-ways.'@RonDeSantis says state agencies taking Flock Cameras down
Reporting by @AGGancarski#FlaPolhttps://t.co/ZjpFUVug7S
— Florida Politics (@Fla_Pol) August 29, 2026
Florida Politics explained further:
While the Governor estimated that “98%” of the roughly 7,500 LPRs in Florida are local, his promise would cover controversial cameras used by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Highway Patrol.
The wildlife agency reportedly targeted critics for surveillance, while the highway patrol has used the cameras as part of an immigration dragnet.
DeSantis left an opening for continuing to use them in a limited way in immigration enforcement.
ADVERTISEMENT“They will say that they’ve used them on apprehensions of some illegal aliens. And so, I don’t doubt that. And if that’s being done very targeted, then we can have a conversation,” he told Bolling.
DeSantis previously suggested that legislation similar to that in New Hampshire would be useful in Florida. The state bans the installation of the cameras along public roads.
While law enforcement using them in vehicles is permissible, the data must be purged quickly.
DeSantis criticized Flock Safety cameras and other license plate readers earlier this week, calling for legislative action to protect civilians from privacy violations.
“I think these cameras, the license plate readers, I think it’s out of control,” DeSantis said.
“Out Of Control” – Ron DeSantis Makes Statement Criticizing License Plate Reader Cameras
WCTV has more:
Democratic candidate David Jolly, once a Republican congressman, also wants further regulation, proving the issue isn’t strictly partisan.
The debate continues. Are license plate cameras necessary for public safety? And what about privacy concerns? Or, misuse by law enforcement?
“First of all, I want to say to our community, we hear you. We hear the concern. We know that there are concerns across this county about the Flock cameras,” Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said. “These cameras are extremely important to us in the ability to recover missing children, to recover human trafficking victims, to recover and to apprehend violent felons in our community.”
DeSantis said Florida cannot become a “surveillance state.” Flock cameras are likely to be a hot topic at the legislature next year.
ADVERTISEMENT“And, no one’s been stronger on law enforcement than me, but I don’t want to have this become a surveillance state,” DeSantis said.
In Tallahassee, city commissioners narrowly voted against banning Flock cameras. But, the governor said this is an issue that needs to be handled on a statewide basis.
Watch DeSantis on "Main Street America" with Eric Bolling below:
What are your thoughts?
