JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Northeast Florida sheriff’s offices have vowed to discontinue the use of license plate reader (LPR) technology after the Florida Department of Transportation revoked permits and licenses it had issued to law enforcement agencies for its use on state roads.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will halt LPR use throughout Duval County, while the Clay County Sheriff’s Office has announced it will remove all license plate readers from Clay County roadways.
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Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responds to FDOT directive
Sheriff T.K. Waters was direct in addressing both the state’s action and community sentiment surrounding the technology.
“As the elected Sheriff of Duval County, it is my responsibility to listen to the concerns of our citizens and act accordingly,” the sheriff said.
Waters acknowledged the technology’s investigative value before announcing the broader countywide decision.
“LPR technology has proven to be an enormously valuable investigative tool, assisting our agency in solving serious crimes and locating missing and vulnerable individuals,” the sheriff said. “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.”
Despite the change, the sheriff stressed the agency’s ongoing dedication to public safety.
“The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office remains fully committed to providing the highest level of public safety services to the people of Jacksonville,” the sheriff said. “We will continue to use every tool, resource, and technology available to prevent crime, solve cases, and protect our community.”
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Clay County Sheriff’s Office cites crime-fighting impact
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has used LPR technology since 2018, and officials say the tools have made a measurable difference in public safety outcomes.
In the past year alone, the CCSO said license plate readers helped investigators find a missing 76-year-old woman from South Carolina whose vehicle was located in Middleburg using an automated license plate reader (ALPR). The technology also helped identify and locate a homicide suspect in a deadly stabbing, and safely recover a 10-year-old taken in a child custody interference case. In that case, the vehicle was located and stopped near the Florida-Alabama state line, leading to three arrests, the sheriff’s office reported in its statement about the discontinuation of Flock cameras.
Sheriff Michelle Cook said the removal of the technology will not slow the agency’s mission.
“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.”
News4JAX has reached out to surrounding law enforcement agencies to learn about their response to the changes.
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