{"id":391673,"date":"2026-09-05T21:38:24","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T21:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/391673\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T21:38:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T21:38:24","slug":"town-of-fort-myers-beach-manager-to-request-town-council-discontinue-contract-with-flock-safety-for-license-plate-readers-fort-myers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/391673\/","title":{"rendered":"Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager to request Town Council discontinue contract with Flock Safety for license plate readers – FORT MYERS"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay. File photo<\/p>\n


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Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay will request that the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council end its contract with Flock Safety for its license plate reader cameras. The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council approved the license plate reader cameras initially in 2022, and in 2023 a five-year contract with the company was approved at $15,000 per year for the cameras. There are two cameras located on the Matanzas Pass Bridge and two cameras on Big Carlos Pass Bridge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not comfortable with the current contract structure, under which we pay only for camera installation but have no role in operating or monitoring them, and no oversight of those who do,\u201d McKannay told the Fort Myers Beach Observer today. <\/p>\n

The Lee County Sheriff\u2019s Office has access to the license plate readers on Fort Myers Beach through an agreement with Flock Safety. McKannay said the Town of Fort Myers Beach doesn\u2019t have a separate contract with the Lee County Sheriff\u2019s Office regarding the Flock Safety cameras and license plate readers that he knows about. <\/p>\n

\u201cLee County Sheriff\u2019s Office (LCSO) monitors the license plate readers, and while we have a strong relationship with them and no specific concerns about their trustworthiness or compliance practices regarding the cameras, we currently have no formal agreements in place with LCSO to protect the town\u2019s interests,\u201d McKannay said.<\/p>\n

McKannay didn\u2019t rule out using the license plate readers in the future if an agreement could be reached. \u201cIf such agreements are established in the future, I may recommend reinstating the license plate readers at that time,\u201d McKannay said.<\/p>\n

Asked to comment on McKannay\u2019s decision, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno issued a statement the office said applies to all concerns regarding license plate reader technology. \u201cThere is no doubt that technology can be a double edged sword. While it has helped us in major investigations and locating missing persons, we must understand the general public\u2019s fear of misuse,\u201d Marceno said in the prepared statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will comply with the orders by our State partners while the legislature straightens the rules and regulations regarding the use of certain technologies. Our hope is that they move quickly as to not jeopardize public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flock Safety license plate reader cameras have become a major story statewide and nationwide, with a number of police departments recently throughout Florida announcing they will end their contract with Flock Safety, citing privacy concerns that have been raised by the public.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, the Cape Coral Police Department announced they will end their contract with Flock Safety for cameras and license plate readers.<\/p>\n

Governor Ron DeSantis recently announced concern about their use as well. On Monday, the Florida Department of Transportation announced they were revoking all right-of-way permits on state road property for local police agencies to use license plate readers. In the order from the State Department of Transportation, Chief Operating Officer Will Watts cited the reports of misuse of information from license plate readers, as well as \u201cdata privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes\u201d as among the reasons for the order discontinuing any state access for the license plate readers.<\/p>\n

The license plate reader cameras on Fort Myers Beach document and store data from the license plate readers, which are gathered from any vehicle that passes over the two bridges that access Fort Myers Beach. <\/p>\n

The Town of Fort Myers Beach initially approved the cameras in 2022. The town also approved a five-year contract extension with Flock Safety for the license plate cameras at $15,000 a year for a total of $75,000.<\/p>\n

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers couldn\u2019t immediately be reached for comment.<\/p>\n


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