MAITLAND, Fla. — Maitland Mayor John Lowndes is calling for the city to remove its Flock Safety license plate-reading cameras amid growing scrutiny of the technology across Florida.
Lowndes said Wednesday he has asked for the issue to be placed before the Maitland City Council at its Sept. 14 meeting for discussion and a vote.
“I understand why law enforcement values these cameras, and I take seriously the argument that they can help solve crimes and catch dangerous people,” Lowndes said. “But there has to be a line between giving law enforcement useful tools and building a system that can track the movements of ordinary, law-abiding citizens.”
Lowndes said he believes Flock cameras cross that line, citing concerns about how license plate data is collected, accessed and shared.
Florida orders cameras removed from state roads
The proposal comes days after the Florida Department of Transportation revoked permits for automated license plate recognition systems installed within state highway rights-of-way.
Agencies have 30 days to remove affected cameras. FDOT cited the rapid expansion of the systems along with reports of misuse, privacy concerns and surveillance issues.
The state action does not amount to a statewide ban on Flock cameras. It applies to cameras located within FDOT-controlled rights-of-way, although several law enforcement agencies have separately decided to pause or discontinue their programs.
“The creep toward a surveillance state should alarm all of us,” Lowndes said. “Public safety matters, but so do privacy, civil liberties and stopping government overreach.”
Debate over public safety and privacy
Police agencies have repeatedly pointed to cases in which automated license plate readers helped investigators locate suspects, recover stolen vehicles and find missing people.
Several Central Florida agencies have nevertheless suspended their systems as questions grow about data retention, information sharing and potential misuse.
Altamonte Springs police, for example, recently suspended use of its Flock network despite pointing to cases in which the cameras helped officers locate a homicide suspect, find a kidnapping victim and identify a wanted fugitive.
Lowndes said Maitland should now have its own public discussion about whether the benefits justify the privacy concerns.
“People deserve to know when their government is collecting information about them, how that information is being used and who has access to it,” Lowndes said.
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