Pinellas Commissioner Vince Nowicki Proposes Ban on License Plate Reader Cameras

Pinellas County Commissioner Vince Nowicki filed a resolution Tuesday, September 15, to remove automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras from county roads. The proposal targets contracts with companies like Flock Safety and Axon, requiring existing cameras to be removed within 30 days if the resolution gains approval.

Nowicki's resolution directs the county to terminate all existing contracts, subscriptions, agreements, and data-sharing arrangements with ALPR providers. It also prohibits the county from entering into, renewing, extending, expanding, or replacing any new agreements with these companies. Beyond county-controlled cameras, the resolution calls upon the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and all municipalities within the county to end their own ALPR contracts and remove their cameras.

County staff must report back within 60 days with detailed information. This includes the number and locations of cameras, who operates them, the current status of contract terminations, and any associated costs. This proposal follows a recent order from the Florida Department of Transportation, issued on September 14, which mandated the removal of ALPRs from state highway rights-of-way within 30 days. However, that state action does not apply to cameras located on local or county roads.

Nowicki emphasized his stance on the issue, stating, “Public safety and personal liberty are not competing goals, and government should track suspects based on evidence and not collect everyone’s movement just in case.” He addressed common arguments for the cameras, adding, “People say, ‘Oh, your license plates are public,’ ‘People can see them anyway, so what’s the big harm?’ Well, people can see my face in public too, but I don’t want government to track my face and my movement everywhere.” The resolution specifically targets ALPRs and does not address speed cameras, red-light cameras, or other surveillance technology.

Commissioner Nowicki expects the resolution could be considered at the County Commission meeting next week, during the week of September 21.