Jefferson County Sheriff Mac McNeill announced the termination of the county's partnership with Flock Safety, just hours after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration decided to remove Flock cameras from state roads. This decision reflects a broader trend among Republican leaders who are increasingly opposing the use of Flock's automated license-plate readers (ALPRs).
Located near Tallahassee, Jefferson County is Florida's most rural county, with a population of 16,000 and no traffic lights. Residents have historically worked to maintain the county's rural character, successfully opposing projects like a proposed toll road and a Love’s Travel Stop.
In 2023, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office began implementing Flock Safety's ALPRs, establishing a network of 44 cameras, which translates to approximately 28 cameras per 10,000 residents. Sheriff McNeill had previously highlighted the technology's potential for crime prevention and public safety.
However, public opposition grew, leading to McNeill's announcement on August 31 that the ALPR program would be discontinued. In a Facebook post, he stated, "After careful consideration and listening to the public’s feedback—including both those who supported and those who opposed the use of this technology—I have made the decision to discontinue the use of FLOCK/LPR camera technology in Jefferson County."
This announcement followed a directive from the Florida Department of Transportation that revoked permits for ALPR systems on state highways due to concerns about misuse and data privacy. Although the order does not impose a statewide ban, it requires the removal of cameras from highway right-of-ways.
McNeill noted that the cameras were no longer operational and were not collecting vehicle information, although the removal process may take months. He defended the program as a necessary resource for a small, rural sheriff's office, stating it had assisted in solving crimes and locating missing persons, though specific cases were not provided.
Flock Safety, founded in 2017, operates over 120,000 ALPRs nationwide, utilizing artificial intelligence to gather data on vehicles. The technology has faced increasing scrutiny over privacy issues and allegations of misuse, prompting several jurisdictions to terminate their contracts with Flock. The opposition to Flock's operations has gained bipartisan support, with DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott both expressing concerns about government surveillance and data collection on individuals not accused of crimes.