Sheriff: Flock restrictions only move cameras elsewhere

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Tuesday that if county commissioners passed a resolution to remove automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, like Flock cameras, from county property and rights-of-way, he would simply move them elsewhere.

The discussion came during the Oct. 27 Board of County Commissioners meeting, as commissioners considered a resolution initially presented by Commissioner Vince Nowicki that would restrict the placement of ALPR cameras on county-controlled property.

Commissioner Chris Latvala asked Gualtieri what he would do if the commission passed the resolution.

“I would just move them,” Gualtieri said. “The other thing I would say to that is, you probably have to start with your own.”

There are just under 300 fixed, stationary automated license plate reader cameras in Pinellas County, according to Gualtieri, in addition to license plate reading technology in each of the Sheriff’s Office’s 560 patrol cars.

“All this is doing is squeezing it from the left hand to the right,” Gualtieri stated.

He pointed to cameras along Interstate 275 that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration moved after deciding to remove ALPRs from Florida Department of Transportation rights-of-ways.

Latvala went on to question whether DeSantis’ announcement to remove ALRPs cameras had accomplished anything.

“If you all pass an ordinance, or revoke the permits through a resolution, I’ll move them off the property, but I’ll just move them somewhere else,” said Gualtieri.

The proposed resolution comes as Flock cameras face growing scrutiny across Tampa Bay over how law enforcement agencies collect, access and share vehicle location data.

In St. Petersburg, the grassroots group DeFlock St. Pete has called on City Council to end its agreement with Flock Safety and remove approximately 50 cameras installed throughout the city.

The group has raised concerns about the collection of location data from motorists who are not suspected of crimes, as well as the potential for that information to be accessed by other agencies.

Those concerns intensified in September when a former Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy was arrested after allegedly using a license plate reader database hundreds of times to track a woman.

Gualtieri has defended the technology as an investigative tool, but acknowledged Tuesday that some law enforcement agencies have operated license plate reader systems without sufficient auditing procedures.

He added, though, that his agency has all along been using audit tools to monitor the technology and is working to improve existing practices.

“We’re cleaning it up,” Gualtieri said. “It’s evolving and getting better … legislature should incorporate all these best practices.”

Gualtieri promised that he would support whatever action the Florida Legislature takes on automated license plate readers, including more sweeping restrictions on their use.

“I firmly expect this would be one of the first bills taken up,” he said, referring to the priority list of the next legislative session.

Latvala expressed his preference to wait for state lawmakers to address the technology, rather than pass a resolution unique to Pinellas County.

“If the legislature doesn’t work, we can return to this in May – after the fact,” Latvala said.

Other Florida counties have already taken action. Pasco County ended its Flock Safety contract in September, while St. Johns County commissioners voted earlier this month to remove automated license plate readers from county rights-of-way (those were, similarly, just reshuffled).