Local

FDOT removes company's license plate reader cameras from Winter Springs neighborhood

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — Some Winter Springs residents were upset after they found out a private company installed license plate camera readers over a busy road near their neighborhood.

A license plate reader was installed in some trees near the intersection of State Road 434 and Moss Road, and WFTV found out the city didn’t install the cameras.

WFTV reached out to the Florida Department of Transportation to ask if the company needed permission from the state since the camera is hanging over a state road.

After bringing the issue to FDOT's attention, officials determines the cameras extended into the air space over the FDOT right-of-way.

NDI Technology removed the cameras Thursday.

The cameras are owned and installed by NDI Recognition Systems, which also makes the cameras.

“They don’t have my permission to grab my license plate data as I drive by. They shouldn’t be able to do that,” said resident David Leavitt.

WFTV’s Racquel Asa tried to get answers from the company but was met by locked doors and an employee who couldn’t answer any of her questions.

Later, officials with the company said they have been hanging cameras from a tree since they moved to Winter Springs in May.

They said the cameras weren’t recording or storing information, but merely being used for research and development to test out new equipment.

Earlier, police said there’s nothing they can do because the cameras are on private property.