Local law enforcement agencies are removing license plate readers from state highway rights-of-way across Florida, including along Alafaya Trail, the state road bordering UCF’s main campus.
The Florida Department of Transportation issued the directive Aug. 31, revoking approvals for automated license plate readers, or LPRs, and giving local law enforcement agencies 30 days to remove them from rights-of-way on the State Highway System. In its memorandum, FDOT cited the growth in LPR deployments and “reports of misuse, data privacy concerns and surveillance schemes” as reasons for the action.
License plate readers use cameras and data processing to turn images of vehicles and their plates into searchable information. Flock Safety provides LPR technology, which is why the devices are commonly called “Flock cameras.”…