Automated license plate recognition (ALPR) camera policy
Summary
Commissioner Nowicki pitched a resolution on Flock cameras but agreed to wait for a Sheriff presentation at the October 8 workshop after privacy concerns from a resident.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 8
- Last 30 days
- 4
Rising — discussed at 4 meetings since Sep 10, 2026, up from 2 in the two months before.
Impact analysis
Unknown — costs are part of the requested review.
Residents concerned about surveillance and those who want crime-fighting tools reviewed in public.
Residents concerned about mass surveillance and civil-liberties groups see continued operation as a harm; law enforcement sees a pause as a loss of a crime-fighting tool.
Mentions & discussions (8)
Sheriff: Flock restrictions only move cameras elsewhere
Commissioners weigh restrictions on license plate readers as Sheriff Bob Gualtieri urges waiting for statewide legislation.
Board of County Commissioners — October 27, 2026
Speakers urged the county to end Flock camera contracts, citing misreads, hacks, and deputy misuse including a case involving a 17-year-old. The sheriff defended the program, said cameras would simply move off county rights-of-way, and predicted state legislation; the board took no action and will pursue legislative guardrails instead.
Board of County Commissioners — October 13, 2026
Residents packed public comment demanding a pause on the countywide license-plate camera network, citing privacy, patent documents showing person-detection capability, and the sheriff's conflict-of-interest as president of the Major County Sheriffs of America. A pause resolution wasn't agendized, so it lands October 27 — with staff warning it could affect county wastewater, airport and parking tech.
Board of County Commissioners - Work Session — October 8, 2026
Sheriff Gualtieri defended the county's 276 ALPR cameras after months of resident complaints, saying the cameras only photograph license plates, data is confidential, and the tech solves serious crimes. Commissioners pressed on data sharing, audit gaps exposed by arrested deputies, and future capabilities — and signaled they'll revisit the topic Tuesday.
Board of County Commissioners — September 10, 2026
Commissioner Nowicki pitched a resolution on Flock cameras but agreed to wait for a Sheriff presentation at the October 8 workshop after privacy concerns from a resident.
Board of County Commissioners - Work Session — September 3, 2026
Commissioner Nowicki's proposal about flock cameras is on hold until the Sheriff presents at the October 8 work session. A white paper on camera counts, neighboring county policies, and legal questions is in progress, and possible state legislation is looming.
Flock crackdown hits Pinellas, forcing 29 cameras down but leaving most of the network intact
Flock crackdown hits Pinellas, forcing 29 cameras down but leaving most of the network intact Florida Politics
Board of County Commissioners — July 21, 2026
Commissioner Scott won agreement for a full presentation on Flock Safety cameras — who accesses the data, how long it's kept, and what it costs — after a wave of resident questions.
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