At a Glance
- Port St. Lucie Police and the St. Lucie County Commission both moved to pause Flock camera use this week
- The Florida Department of Transportation revoked all existing permits for license plate readers on state roads
- Camera access is now limited to cases involving immediate threats to life or serious bodily harm
Local leaders across St. Lucie County are pulling back on Flock camera use following a statewide order from the Florida Department of Transportation. One day after FDOT revoked permits for license plate readers on state-controlled roads, the St. Lucie County Commission voted Tuesday evening to do the same at the county level.
The county’s decision followed a similar move by the Port St. Lucie Police Department, which announced an operational pause on all Automated License Plate Reader, or ALPR, technology after FDOT’s memorandum came down.
Why It Matters
For Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County residents, the coordinated pause means law enforcement across both the city and county now has far more limited access to license plate data that has helped solve crimes and locate suspects in recent years.
During the pause, PSLPD says camera access will be restricted to “exigent circumstances,” meaning cases involving an immediate threat to life or a risk of serious bodily harm.
The moves mirror what is happening statewide. FDOT Assistant Secretary Will Watts gave agencies 30 days to remove the cameras from state roads themselves, or the state will remove them. FDOT also said it will no longer approve any future ALPR permit requests within its jurisdiction.
What Led to the Decision
Gov. Ron DeSantis called Flock cameras “out of control” last week, saying the technology had become too invasive and needed an overhaul. Flock cameras photograph every vehicle that passes, logging license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, and identifying details like dents or scratches.
The cameras have drawn both praise and criticism in recent months. Locally, they were credited with helping track down Matthew Waggle, an Indian River County man accused of killing a woman before fleeing to West Virginia, where he was found by U.S. Marshals.
Supporters point to cases like that as evidence of the technology’s crime-fighting value. Critics have raised ongoing concerns about privacy and government surveillance.
What Comes Next
Port St. Lucie Police Chief Leo Niemczyk addressed the balance his department is trying to strike. He said the technology has helped protect people and solve crimes, but that the department also has a responsibility to listen to the community and follow the direction of state leaders.
Both PSLPD and the St. Lucie County Commission say they will continue monitoring developments at the state level and will review new guidance as it becomes available. It remains unclear how long the pause will last or whether the cameras will return in some modified form.
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