CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — All license plate readers are being removed from Clay County roadways following a memo issued by the Florida Department of Transportation, according to a news release from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
The decision follows the state memo and ongoing discussions regarding license plate readers, technological advancements, and how law enforcement agencies utilize the technology. CCSO said it has used license plate readers as a crime-fighting tool since 2018.
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Over the past year, license plate readers assisted CCSO in multiple cases across the region. In one incident, an automated license plate reader spotted a vehicle in Middleburg, helping deputies locate a missing 76-year-old woman from South Carolina. The technology also helped identify and locate a homicide suspect in a deadly stabbing.
In another case, CCSO said the system helped locate a 10-year-old child involved in a custody interference case. Officers stopped the vehicle near the Florida-Alabama state line, leading to three arrests.
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Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook emphasized that public safety efforts will remain unaffected by the removal of the devices.
“As always, our commitment to fostering a safe community where families and businesses can thrive remains our top priority,” Cook said. “This decision does not hinder, nor sway, our efforts to prevent and fight crime, solve cases, hold offenders accountable and maintain public trust.”
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CCSO said it will continue adhering to state guidelines regarding law enforcement technology.
Cook is not the only Northeast Florida sheriff to announce the decision to discontinue the use of these cameras.
Earlier Monday, Putnam County Sheriff “Gator” DeLoach announced that the 18 cameras throughout Putnam County would be taken down and Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office would comply with the state directive.
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