JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Law enforcement agencies across Florida are facing a critical deadline Wednesday to completely dismantle automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) currently installed along state roads.
The forced removals come after the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) revoked permits for the devices nearly a month ago, issuing a strict 30-day deadline to local agencies to clear them from state-maintained rights-of-way.
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As the deadline approaches, a drive down some roads shows these cameras covered. On Atlantic Boulevard, some of the controversial reading devices many of which are manufactured by Flock Safety, remain standing, though they have been wrapped and covered but not removed.
“It’ll take some time,” Albert Volk, a local resident, said. “We’ll just give it by the end of the year, hopefully they all come down.”
Law enforcement officials maintain they are working as fast as they can to comply with FDOT’s sudden mandate, noting that taking down a widespread network of cameras is no small logistical feat.
“We’re removing them as quickly as possible,” Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters on a crime prevention walk on Saturday. “But you can probably imagine they got to remove a lot. So we’re going to do what we have to do right now. They’re covered and we covered them ... So we are not utilizing them.”
RELATED: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will ‘discontinue’ use of automated license plate reader cameras
The technology works by rapidly scanning every passing license plate and comparing the data against law enforcement databases. Agencies like JSO say the technology has helped officers solve 135 major crimes and successfully track down multiple vulnerable missing people.
Previously, agencies were able to access the information on drivers to be stored for up to 30 days.
“You got people who haven’t committed any crimes that doors are being knocked on by the police,” Volk said.
In the most severe cases, misidentifications have led to wrongful detentions. Lindsay Issac, a Florida resident, spent 13 days in jail after an ALPR error led to her false arrest, an incident frequently cited by privacy advocates.
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With hours left before the FDOT deadline, local law enforcement agencies are offering very little commentary on how the removal of the cameras will impact their day-to-day operations or how many devices have officially been uninstalled.
JSO declined an interview Tuesday and mentioned the removal of the actual hardware would be by the owner of the equipment -– not JSO. They also included a statement from Waters from August 31 in reference to the decision to discontinue the use of LPR technology throughout Duval County:
“As the elected Sheriff of Duval County, it is my responsibility to listen to the concerns of our citizens and act accordingly. Today, the Florida Department of Transportation announced the revocation of the permits and licenses it provided to law enforcement agencies for the use of license plate reader (LPR) technology on state roads. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will fully comply with FDOT’s directive. Additionally, at my direction, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will discontinue the use of LPR technology throughout Duval County effective immediately. LPR technology has proven to be an enormously valuable investigative tool, assisting our agency in solving serious crimes and locating missing and vulnerable individuals. However, given the decision made at the state level and the concerns expressed by members of our community, I have determined that discontinuing the use of this technology is the appropriate course of action at this time. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office remains fully committed to providing the highest level of public safety services to the people of Jacksonville. We will continue to use every tool, resource, and technology available to prevent crime, solve cases, and protect our community.”
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Nassau County Sheriff’s Office also declined an interview but said “there are still many details we are working through.”
Similar requests for comment were turned down by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. St. Johns County officials did not respond to inquiries, and Jacksonville Beach police indicated they did not have anyone available to speak on the matter Tuesday afternoon.
By Wednesday night, any remaining operational license plate readers on Florida state roads will officially be out of compliance.
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