The Fernandina Beach Police Department has formally notified Flock Group that it will discontinue its license plate recognition camera system, citing a state directive and community privacy concerns. The move goes beyond the Florida Department of Transportation's order, which applied only to state highway rights-of-way, by ending the city's entire Flock contract.

City Cites State Order, Resident Concerns

The city formally notified Flock Group Tuesday, Sept. 1, that it will discontinue the company's license plate recognition system, according to a city news release reported by the Nassau Community Press. The department cited a recent state decision on the technology and concerns raised by residents.

State Order Covered Only Highway Cameras

The move goes further than the state requires. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) revoked permits for automated plate readers installed in state highway rights-of-way Monday, Aug. 31, and ordered agencies to remove those devices within 30 days, the Nassau Community Press reported. That directive, signed by FDOT Chief Operating Officer Will Watts, applied only to state roads. Fernandina Beach chose to end its entire Flock system, including cameras on city streets.

Two Cameras Installed At City Intersections

The city's two Flock cameras were installed at the intersection of South Eighth Street and Amelia Island Parkway and at Atlantic Avenue and Eighth Street, according to the Fernandina Observer. The system automatically photographed vehicles and recorded license plate data that authorized officers could search in criminal investigations.

Contract Dated Back To 2022 Agreement

The City Commission approved a five-year, $50,000 agreement with Flock Safety Group on June 20, 2023, at $10,000 per year. The police department had operated under a one-year agreement signed in 2022 before that.

Termination Costs, Refund Status Unclear

The city's announcement did not address whether Fernandina Beach will owe an early termination fee or receive a refund for the remaining contract term.

State Points To Misuse, Privacy Fears

FDOT said it acted because of an "exponential increase" in camera deployments, reports of misuse, data privacy concerns and what the memo called "surveillance schemes." Gov. Ron DeSantis said Aug. 26 at Florida International University that the spread of the cameras was "out of control."

Other Florida Agencies Drop Cameras Too

Fernandina Beach joins a growing list of Florida agencies stepping away from the technology. The Nassau County Sheriff's Office said it would comply with the state directive affecting its 34 Flock cameras. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters announced his agency would also discontinue the cameras. Putnam County Sheriff H.D. "Gator" DeLoach ordered his department's 18 cameras disconnected immediately.