{"id":160204,"date":"2026-02-18T19:34:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:34:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/160204\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T19:34:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:34:54","slug":"tampa-city-council-could-vote-to-approve-flock-integrated-speed-cameras-in-school-zones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/160204\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa City Council could vote to approve Flock-integrated speed cameras in school zones"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Close-upA RedSpeed camera Credit: RedSpeed<\/a><\/p>\n

Thursday morning Tampa City Council will vote on a request from the Tampa Police Department to approve a\u00a0piggyback agreement\u00a0with RedSpeed through an existing contract with Hillsborough County Sheriff\u2019s office. The cameras are currently in use within the county. RedSpeed touted in a proposal to the county its Flock integration, \u201cIntegrated Flock means RedSpeed\u2019s cameras are feeding the Wing System for enforcement synergy. \u201c<\/p>\n

Soon after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law allowing speed cameras in school zones, Tampa City Council member Luis Viera motioned for the city to explore adding cameras. A study was conducted with the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization to identify the most problematic schools in regard to speeding and student pedestrian safety. That resulted in Ordinance No. 2024-3 approved by council 5-1 with Council member Alan Clendenin voting no and the late Council member Gwen Henderson absent at vote. A subsequent Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued and a company selected. Council approved the contract at its Aug. 1, 2024 meeting. In December of 2025 the contract was mutually terminated.<\/p>\n

Council and the public were made aware there were issues with the contract when Chief Financial Officer Dennis Rogero noted during a presentation the anticipated revenue from the cameras would not be realized this fiscal year. During an earlier budget presentation $15 million in revenue from the cameras was discussed.<\/p>\n

RedSpeed scored third among the proposals, 12 points behind the winning proposal from Verra Mobility that was unable to be met and five points behind the second place proposal from NovoaGlobal Inc. There is no indication in the backup materials why the third place proposal was chosen.<\/p>\n

Front and center in RedSpeed\u2019s proposal to Hillsborough County is their included integration with Flock.<\/p>\n

HD Video enforcement provides another unique advantage: ONLY RedSpeed can offer integration with Flock. We have enclosed a letter from Flock confirming this fact. We have collaborated closely with Flock to optimize interoperability, and our intuitive software is already in use across the state. We have successfully integrated over 100 Flock systems in current installations; our competitors have integrated zero Flock systems. Only RedSpeed offers this direct integration, and Flock is included in the RedSpeed price.<\/p>\n

Additionally in their proposal they note \u201cRedSpeed provides the ability to live stream video from all cameras.\u201d Section 316.1896, Florida Statutes states \u201ca speed detection system in a school zone may not be used for remote surveillance.\u201d Tampa\u2019s ordinance explicitly notes that stipulation.<\/p>\n

RedSpeed\u2019s proposal emphasizes \u201cRedSpeed provides Flock ALPR at all locations, included in the RedSpeed Price.\u201d The accompanying letter from Flock states \u201cIn order for the two systems to work together, RedSpeed will provide Flock with RTSP streams for the given cameras\u2026The camera is then plotted on the Flock Safety map in the application to appropriately locate where the cameras are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flock was most recently in the news amid a backlash over a Ring video doorbell Super Bowl ad in which\u00a0Ring canceled their planned partnership with Flock<\/a>. The concerns can be summed up by the study from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights \u201cLeaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement<\/a>.\u201d As the Tampa Monitor reported last September when\u00a0TPD signed a contract with Flock<\/a>\u00a0Tampa Chief of Police Bercaw signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE on behalf of the city of Tampa Feb. 26, 2025.<\/p>\n

Before their unanimous vote to approve the Flock contract, several council members noted they spoke with the Chief and were assured the data wouldn\u2019t be inappropriately shared.<\/p>\n

Council member Lynn Hurtak said \u201cthat the only time they are allowed to use this technology
Is to share it with other agencies when they have an open case.\u201d<\/p>\n

Council member Viera shared \u201cObviously I called up Chief Bercaw and spoke to him about it. I\u2019m fully satisfied with that. Obviously given the allegations of potential with what\u2019s happening on the federal level with immigration, something that really breaks my heart, moves my heart, makes me very angry over the xenophobia, prejudice, bigotry and racism i\u2019m seeing out there, I\u2019m very satisfied. Given that, I\u2019m very satisfied with his answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

If ICE is a cooperating agency and they claim to have an \u201copen case\u201d, is that a legitimate defense for sharing the data? If the cameras are part of a network that other agencies could potentially tap into, who really has control over the data sharing? These are questions that go well beyond \u201cimmigration enforcement\u201d, especially when it\u2019s part of a revenue generating model. These are not \u201cdumb\u201d cameras that are only checking for speeding during school hours.<\/p>\n

The Tampa Monitor is not aware of any evidence TPD or HCSO have shared data or information with ICE.<\/p>\n

The FY26 operating budget for Tampa Police Department is $221 million.<\/p>\n

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This article appears in Feb. 12 \u2013 18, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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