Citation ledger
Every claim in this briefing is one of Supported, Unproven, or Disputed, and is built from Evidence, Inference, or Assumption. Primary records (statute, rule, FDOT GIS, FDOT memo index, certified mileage) outrank commentary. OSM / DeFlock is a source, not a roster.
Engineering and Operations Memorandum 26-01 — Revocation of General Use Permits for Automated License Plate Readers
Florida Department of Transportation, Office of Design
Accessed 2026-09-01
Hosted PDF on FDOT’s Sitefinity blob, linked from multiple 31 Aug 2026 news reports and listed on the official bulletins index as EOM26-01 (https://www.fdot.gov/design/bulletins/default.shtm), effective 8/31/26.
https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/design/bulletins/eom26-01.pdf§ 316.0777, Florida Statutes — Automated license plate recognition systems; installation within rights-of-way of State Highway System; public records exemption
Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine / Florida Senate)
Accessed 2026-08-31
https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/statutes/2025/316.0777§ 316.0778, Florida Statutes — Automated license plate recognition systems; records retention
Florida Legislature (Florida Senate)
Accessed 2026-08-31
https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/statutes/2025/316.0778§ 334.03, Florida Statutes — Definitions (right-of-way; State Highway System; department)
Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
Accessed 2026-08-31
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0334/Sections/0334.03.htmlFla. Admin. Code R. 14-20.010 — General Use Permits
Florida Administrative Code (via Cornell LII)
Accessed 2026-08-31
Defines a General Use Permit as a temporary, non-possessory, non-exclusive use of State Highway System right-of-way, revocable at any time by the Department.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-14-20-010FDOT GIS — On-System Roads (State Highway System) shapefile
Florida Department of Transportation, Transportation Data and Analytics
Accessed 2026-08-31
on_system.zip retrieved 2026-08-31. Metadata: On System = active main-line roads on the SHS; segment status coded 02 for on-system. Source CRS NAD83 UTM Zone 17N. Layer last synced 2026-08-29.
https://www.fdot.gov/statistics/gis/default.shtmCertification of Public Road Mileage for the State of Florida by System
Florida Department of Transportation
Accessed 2026-08-31
PDF dated 5/20/2026. Certified centerline miles as of 2025-12-31: SHS 12,287.0; County 71,006.8; City 39,585.5; Federal 2,277.8.
https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/statistics/mileage-rpts/floridacertifiedpublicroadmileage2025.pdf?sfvrsn=54e64c73_3FDOT GIS Open Data Hub — On System TDA
Florida Department of Transportation
Accessed 2026-08-31
Hub description: roadways classified as active on the State Highway System as derived from RCI Feature 140, characteristic STATEXPT.
https://gis-fdot.opendata.arcgis.com/OpenStreetMap nodes/ways tagged surveillance:type=ALPR inside ISO3166-2=US-FL
OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0)
Accessed 2026-08-31
Queried via Overpass API. OSM timestamp 2026-08-31T21:17:36Z. Crowd-mapped device locations — not an FDOT permit roster, not a complete inventory, and not proof that any given camera sits in SHS right-of-way.
https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyrightDeFlock — open-source project mapping automated license plate readers
DeFlock / OSM volunteer community
Accessed 2026-08-31
DeFlock is the volunteer workflow that writes many of these ALPR tags into OpenStreetMap. Maps at maps.deflock.org. Camera locations come from volunteers, not from a company or government agency.
https://deflock.org/DeFlock Maps
DeFlock
Accessed 2026-08-31
https://maps.deflock.org/DeFlock Florida — county camera counts (query of 26 June 2026)
deflockflorida.com (OSM/Overpass derivative)
Accessed 2026-08-31
Reported 7,298 ALPR nodes in 66 of 67 counties as of 2026-06-26. Used only as a prior snapshot. This briefing re-queried OSM on 2026-08-31.
https://deflockflorida.com/camera-data/Cartographic Boundary File — County, 1:20,000,000, 2023
U.S. Census Bureau
Accessed 2026-08-31
cb_2023_us_county_20m used to assign ALPR points to Florida counties and to draw the county overlay. Simplified geometry.
https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/cartographic-boundary.htmlFDOT cracks down on license plate readers, orders Flock cameras removed from state roads
Florida Voice News (Frank Kopylov)
Accessed 2026-08-31
Same-day reporting. Quotes the memorandum and Gov. DeSantis remarks of 26 August 2026. Not a substitute for the primary record.
https://flvoicenews.com/fdot-cracks-down-on-license-plate-readers-orders-flock-cameras-removed-from-state-roads/FDOT District offices and county coverage
Florida Department of Transportation
Accessed 2026-08-31
District names, headquarters, and county lists as commonly published by FDOT. Managing-district code 8 on the On-System layer is Florida's Turnpike Enterprise.
https://www.fdot.gov/Briefing desk answers (Grok, grounded in this record)
This briefing
Accessed 2026-08-31
Generated answers are constrained to the memo, statutes, FAC 14-20.010, FDOT GIS counts, and OSM caveats assembled here. They are not official FDOT statements and are not legal advice. Prefer the primary records on this page.
/askSheriff Waters’ statement on license plate reader technology (31 Aug 2026)
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Accessed 2026-09-01
Official JSO news release. Discontinues LPR throughout Duval County effective immediately — broader than the SHS-only FDOT memo.
https://www.jaxsheriff.org/News/20260831-LPR-Statement.aspxPublic notice regarding Flock cameras
Liberty County Sheriff’s Office
Accessed 2026-09-01
Sheriff Dusty Arnold’s public notice on the office’s Facebook page, 31 Aug 2026. Ending the Flock contract in Liberty County.
https://www.facebook.com/LibertyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/public-notice-regarding-flock-camerasafter-careful-consideration-i-have-made-the/1503658918467379/Effective immediately, we are shutting down License Plate Readers in Volusia County
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood
Accessed 2026-09-01
Sheriff’s own post, 31 Aug 2026.
https://www.facebook.com/sheriffchitwood/posts/effective-immediately-we-are-shutting-down-license-plate-readers-in-volusia-coun/1630290438454395/Altamonte Springs Police Department Suspends Use of Flock Cameras
Altamonte Springs Police Department
Accessed 2026-09-01
Department release dated 31 Aug 2026, posted to the official Facebook page. Duration of the suspension is not in the retrieved excerpt.
https://www.facebook.com/altamontespringspd/posts/altamonte-springs-police-department-suspends-use-of-flock-camerasrelease-date-au/1511310961027255/Northeast Florida law enforcement agencies cut ties with license plate reader use after FDOT’s directive
News4JAX / WJXT
Accessed 2026-09-01
Quotes JSO, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook, Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith, and Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. Nassau item is SHS compliance (34 cameras on state ROW), not a program end — see actionnewsjax-nassau-2026-08-31. Updated 31 Aug 2026, 3:48 p.m.
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/08/31/jso-ends-license-plate-reader-use-following-fdots-directive/Florida revokes permit for 34 Nassau County license plate reader cameras
Action News Jax / WJAX
Accessed 2026-09-01
NCSO: will adhere to FDOT; the directive applies to 34 Flock cameras in state-highway right-of-way. Sheriff Leeper: will comply and remain committed to using technology. Same statement summarized on nassauso.com. Not a countywide program cancellation.
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/florida-revokes-permit-34-nassau-county-license-plate-reader-cameras/TJ5Q5GKQ4VB2BPYTXOENYAC4H4/County-by-County | How area sheriffs are responding to FDOT’s order to remove Flock cameras
Action News Jax / WJAX
Accessed 2026-09-01
Baker (Rhoden: discontinue LPR at this time), Bradford (Smith: stop anywhere in the county), Clay (Cook: all LPRs off Clay roadways), Duval (Waters: discontinue throughout Duval), Nassau (Leeper: adhere to FDOT; remain committed to technology), Putnam (DeLoach: discontinue program and cancel contract).
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/county-by-county-how-local-sheriffs-are-responding-fdots-order-remove-flock-cameras/AOYXI65SLFGSHKHIYXN5M22ZNE/Florida revokes all permits for Flock cameras on state roads
ClickOrlando / News 6
Accessed 2026-09-01
Volusia (Chitwood quote), Brevard (Ivey), and a passing claim that Jefferson County had taken readers down — the Jefferson item is unconfirmed elsewhere in this scan.
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/florida/2026/08/31/florida-revokes-all-permits-for-flock-cameras-on-state-roads/Florida sheriffs order all Flock-style license plate reader cameras removed
WCJB TV20
Accessed 2026-09-01
Putnam: 18 cameras disconnected immediately, remove within 30 days. Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach.
https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/31/florida-sheriff-orders-all-flock-style-license-plate-reader-cameras-removed/Sheriffs drop license plate readers as DeSantis warns against ‘surveillance state’
Florida Phoenix
Accessed 2026-09-01
https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/31/sheriffs-drop-license-plate-readers-as-desantis-warns-against-surveillance-state/Pasco County sheriff issues warning as license plate reader cameras program to end
FOX 13 Tampa Bay
Accessed 2026-09-01
Reports Sheriff Nocco’s 26 Aug 2026 letter: county ROW interlocal agreement ends 30 Sept 2026. Private and SHS cameras carved out.
https://www.fox13news.com/news/desantis-says-license-plate-readers-out-control-florida-sheriff-ends-camera-dealFranklin Co. Sheriff’s Office dropping license plate reader cameras
WJHG / WECP
Accessed 2026-09-01
https://www.wjhg.com/2026/08/31/franklin-co-sheriffs-office-dropping-license-plate-reader-cameras/Calhoun, Liberty and Holmes counties end Flock camera use
WMBB / mypanhandle.com
Accessed 2026-09-01
Updated 1 Sept 2026. Distinguishes Calhoun (lost access to six state-owned cameras) from Liberty and Holmes (ending Flock use).
https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/calhoun-liberty-and-holmes-counties-end-flock-camera-use/Leon sheriff halts use of controversial Flock cameras
Tallahassee Democrat
Accessed 2026-09-01
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2026/08/31/florida-sheriff-suspends-flock-camera-program-walt-mcneil-tallahassee-leon/91552975007/Cities, counties across Central Florida update license plate reader policies after FDOT memo
WESH 2
Accessed 2026-09-01
Volusia, Edgewater, Brevard, Seminole pause, Oviedo council, Sanford pause. Orange County and Orlando PD not reported as acting.
https://www.wesh.com/article/central-florida-license-plate-reader-policies-fdot-memo/73574824Florida orders Flock cameras off of state roads
Orlando Sentinel
Accessed 2026-09-01
Oviedo City Council ordered immediate removal of eight Flock cameras and stopped funding. Mayor Megan Sladek quoted.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/08/31/florida-orders-flock-cameras-off-of-state-roads/Flock fallout: Central Florida agencies, communities react after state orders removal of cameras from highways
FOX 35 Orlando
Accessed 2026-09-01
Includes Chitwood remark that all of his office’s cameras were on state roads.
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/flock-fallout-central-florida-agencies-communities-react-after-state-orders-removal-cameras-from-highwaysFDOT orders Flock cameras removed from state rights-of-way, halts new permits
WFTV 9
Accessed 2026-09-01
https://www.wftv.com/news/local/fdot-orders-license-plate-reading-cameras-removed-state-rights-of-way-halts-new-permits/XBT4JV2XJBCMVCPATCMBUWEU3A/FDOT revokes all license plate reader permits across state, citing privacy concerns
WFLA News Channel 8
Accessed 2026-09-01
Quotes Hernando County Sheriff’s Office: removal of Flock ALPR on county-maintained ROW had already begun before the memo.
https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/desantis-holds-press-conference-in-jacksonville-3/Palm Bay suspends Flock cameras after permitting review
Spectrum News 13
Accessed 2026-09-01
7 Aug 2026 — before EOM 26-01. City manager found cameras may not have been properly permitted.
https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2026/08/07/palm-bay-suspends-flock-camera-system-after-permitting-reviewFlorida bans Flock and other license plate readers from state highways as backlash grows
NBC News
Accessed 2026-09-01
Links the hosted EOM 26-01 PDF. Quotes DeSantis that 98% of cameras sit on local ROW or private property, outside the memo.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/florida-bans-flock-license-plate-readers-state-highways-rcna595420Indian Harbour Beach Police Department to Remove License Plate Recognition Cameras from State Roads
City of Indian Harbour Beach
Accessed 2026-09-01
City news flash dated 31 Aug 2026. Three LPR cameras in FDOT right-of-way: one on South Patrick Drive (SR 513) and two on SR A1A. Official city notice. SHS compliance, not a citywide program end.
https://www.indianharbourbeach.org/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/112memo-exists
FDOT issued Engineering and Operations Memorandum 26-01 on 31 August 2026, revoking General Use Permits for automated license plate readers on State Highway System right-of-way.
supported · evidence · eom-26-01
Supported by the official FDOT bulletins index listing EOM26-01 with matching title and date, and by the letter on FDOT letterhead transcribed here. The hosted PDF file on fdot.gov was not independently downloaded at briefing time.
statute-discretion
Section 316.0777, Florida Statutes, already gave FDOT discretion to approve, deny, or order removal of ALPR systems from SHS right-of-way, with a 30-day removal clock after notice.
supported · evidence · fs-316-0777
gup-revocable
A General Use Permit is temporary, creates no contractual right, and is revocable at any time by FDOT.
supported · evidence · fac-14-20-010, eom-26-01
scope-local-lea
The revocation applies to LPR approvals FDOT issued to local law enforcement agencies for devices in SHS right-of-way.
supported · evidence · eom-26-01, fs-316-0777
The memorandum is addressed to Local Agency Permitholders. Copy line includes State Agency Officials.
not-local-roads
The memorandum does not, by its terms, revoke cameras on county roads, city streets, or private property that are not on the State Highway System.
supported · evidence · eom-26-01, fs-316-0777, fs-334-03
Local governments remain free, on their own ROW, to keep, move, or take down devices under local policy. That is outside this memo.
shs-miles
Florida’s certified State Highway System is 12,287.0 centerline miles as of 31 December 2025.
supported · evidence · fdot-mileage
permit-roster
FDOT has published a spatial roster of the specific LPR devices whose permits were revoked.
unproven · assumption · eom-26-01
No public GIS or permit table of revoked LPR sites was retrieved from FDOT on 31 August 2026. Map points in this briefing are not that roster.
osm-count
OpenStreetMap contained 9,573 features tagged surveillance:type=ALPR inside Florida as of 31 August 2026, 21:17 UTC.
supported · evidence · osm-alpr, deflock
This is a count of documented tags, not a certified inventory of operating cameras. Coverage is uneven. Private retail, HOA, campus, and law-enforcement devices are mixed together.
near-shs
About 3,446 of those OSM ALPR points fall within 50 meters of an FDOT On-System centerline; 4,147 within 100 meters.
unproven · inference · osm-alpr, fdot-on-system
Distance is to simplified SHS centerline, not to the legal ROW boundary. ROW width varies from a few dozen feet in towns to hundreds of feet on limited-access facilities. Proximity is not a permit determination.
operator-tags
OSM operator tags identify which agency or company runs a given camera.
unproven · inference · osm-alpr
Only 857 of 9,573 Florida ALPR nodes carried an operator tag in this pull. Tags are volunteer-applied and may be wrong, stale, or missing.
state-devices
State-operated devices (for example Florida Highway Patrol or FDOT’s own units) are included in the revocation.
unproven · assumption · eom-26-01
The memo revokes approvals issued to local law enforcement agencies. Whether a state agency’s own SHS installations are swept in is not stated in the four corners of the memo.
mobile-alpr
Mobile ALPR units mounted on patrol vehicles are ordered removed by EOM 26-01.
unproven · assumption · eom-26-01, fs-316-0777
The memo is about placement in SHS right-of-way under General Use Permits. Vehicle-mounted systems are a different installation class.
local-beyond-memo
After EOM 26-01, some Florida sheriffs and city councils announced ending, removing, or pausing LPR programs on county and city roads — which the memo does not, by its terms, require.
supported · evidence · jso-2026-08-31, liberty-so-fb-2026-08-31, chitwood-fb-2026-08-31, orlandosentinel-2026-08-31
Each locality is a separate policy on county or city dirt. Scope varies (whole program vs county ROW vs a pause). Complying with EOM 26-01 on State Highway System right-of-way is not this claim. Private-property cameras are generally untouched. This is a 1 Sept 2026 scan, not a complete roster of 67 counties.
all-67-tagged
OpenStreetMap / DeFlock ALPR tags appear in all 67 Florida counties in the 31 August 2026 pull — from 5 tags (Levy, Madison) to 1,082 (Broward). No county is recorded here as unused.
supported · evidence · osm-alpr, deflock
A tag is not a permit and not proof the county sheriff operates the camera. Most nodes are untagged. Zero tags would still not prove a county has no LPR — coverage is uneven. This briefing has no official unused-county roster.
removal-clock
EOM 26-01 gives local-LEA permitholders 30 days from 31 August 2026 to remove LPR devices from State Highway System right-of-way — through 30 September 2026.
supported · evidence · eom-26-01, fs-316-0777
The statute already used a 30-day removal clock after notice. Safety hazards can be removed immediately. The clock is not a ban on county roads or private property.
violation-roster
This briefing can name which agencies are still in violation of EOM 26-01 after 30 September 2026.
unproven · assumption · eom-26-01
No FDOT after-action roster of remaining SHS devices has been retrieved. OSM tags frozen on 31 August 2026 are not occupancy after the deadline. Remaining-device claims go in the watch log only with a source.
shs-not-local-drop
A county or city that only takes cameras off State Highway System right-of-way is complying with FDOT, not independently banning LPR on local streets.
supported · inference · eom-26-01, nbc-2026-08-31, fox35-fallout-2026-08-31
Nassau’s 34 cameras are the FDOT order on state-highway right-of-way; the sheriff said the office remains committed to other technology. Volusia’s sheriff said all of his office’s cameras were on state roads, so a “countywide shutdown” may be SHS compliance in fact. Always read the scope line.
OpenStreetMap data is © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License. DeFlock is the volunteer mapping project that writes many surveillance:type=ALPR tags. FDOT GIS is provided as-is by the Department. This briefing is not legal advice and is not an FDOT publication.