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Four Motorola Solutions license plate reader cameras are posted at the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Cochran Boulevard in Port Charlotte.<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER<\/p>\n
PORT CHARLOTTE \u2014 In Charlotte County, law enforcement not only uses cameras it owns but also works with residents who have volunteered to have their home camera footage or live stream viewed by police.<\/p>\n
Most of the law-related cameras in Charlotte County are automated license plate reader cameras \u2014 known as LPRs \u2014 that law enforcement can use to find vehicles and motorists.<\/p>\n
Just at the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Cochran Boulevard are four Motorola Solutions<\/a> LPRs.<\/p>\n As automatic LPRs like Flock Safety grow in popularity and public scrutiny<\/a>, Charlotte County primarily uses two brands to track vehicles.<\/p>\n A map of the Motorola LPRs posted at Tamiami Trail and Cochran Boulevard in Port Charlotte.<\/p>\n MAP PROVIDED BY DEFLOCK MAPS<\/p>\n According to DeFlock Maps<\/a>, an open-sourced, volunteer-powered project for identifying and documenting automated license plate readers, 73% of LPRs in Charlotte County are Motorola. The camera locations can be seen at the DeFlock Maps website at:<\/p>\n maps.deflock.org<\/a><\/p>\n Radio One\/CSE Crosscom partners with Motorola to post LPRs across Florida. Radio One specializes in audio, video and data wireless technologies.<\/p>\n A Motorola LPR facing Cochran Boulevard in Port Charlotte.<\/p>\n PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER<\/p>\n Morgan McLenighan, an inbound sales representative with Motorola, said LPRs use specialized image processing and machine learning algorithms to capture clear images of moving vehicles and read a plate\u2019s text.<\/p>\n \u201cSystem data is strictly owned and controlled by the operating user or agency,\u201d McLenighan said. \u201cSystem administrators can configure secure data-sharing rules, enabling seamless collaboration with local law enforcement \u2014 such as county sheriff\u2019s offices \u2014 or neighboring agencies when investigating incidents or tracking watchlists.\u201d<\/p>\n McLenighan said data is encrypted while in transit and when dormant with \u201centerprise-grade\u201d security protocols.<\/p>\n According to a grant application packet<\/a> from the Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement on June 9, the Charlotte County Sheriff\u2019s Office requested:<\/p>\n 88 L5F Motorola LPRs18 L6DLicensing and monitoring for two years<\/p>\n The total came to about $1 million.<\/p>\n According to a 2025 law enforcement annual agency report<\/a>, the CCSO technical surveillance team expanded its coverage by purchasing additional LPRs and camera software systems.<\/p>\n The report said LPRs \u201chave been strategically deployed based on crime analysis to increase solvability. The agency has solved several investigations due to enhanced technology. Members received formal training and obtained certifications in compliance with their discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n A 2025 911 report from CCSO<\/a> states that the 911 office uses its IP network and core services through Motorola.<\/p>\n Alongside Motorola LPRs, the county uses a different LPR provider to record vehicles speeding in a school zone.<\/p>\n School Zone Speeding Violations<\/p>\n The county started using RedSpeed<\/a> automatic LPRs on Feb. 27. By April 1, owners of vehicles in violation of school zone speed limits were mailed citations.<\/p>\n The RedSpeed camera pointed at Cochran Boulevard near Port Charlotte High School records vehicles and license plates speeding in a school zone.<\/p>\n PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER<\/p>\n RedSpeed LPRs were installed as a part of the county\u2019s School Zone Speed Detection Program<\/a>. Cameras only operate during school days, 30 minutes before breakfast, 30 minutes after school is in session and 30 minutes after school ends.<\/p>\n Violations are sent to vehicles that exceed 10 miles above the school zone speed limit. Flashing lights are not required to signal when a school zone is active.<\/p>\n RedSpeed LPRs record:<\/p>\n Violation date, time and locationVehicle color, model and tagSpeed limit and recorded speed<\/p>\n A traffic enforcement officer collects and organizes information collected by RedSpeed to send a vehicle\u2019s owner a citation through the mail. A special magistrate hearing<\/a> is held on the first Wednesday of each month for citation appeals.<\/p>\n Using Private Home Footage<\/p>\n The Charlotte County Sheriff\u2019s Office is asking residents with home security cameras to voluntarily register with the Sheriff\u2019s Office. Doing so does not give deputies access to the home cameras, but allows law enforcement to contact a homeowner if a crime occurs in the area.<\/p>\n \u201cRegistering your cameras does not allow the Charlotte County Sheriff\u2019s Office access to your live video stream,\u201d the Sheriff\u2019s Office website states. \u201cIt only enables investigators to know a camera is present at your location and easily request video evidence should an incident occur.\u201d<\/p>\n But residents can agree to integrate their cameras in the Sheriff\u2019s Office system, meaning deputies could then access a live stream when necessary. Residents who agree to having their camera(s) integrated can also set up rules for how the stream can be viewed.<\/p>\n More details about the two camera programs are at:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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