Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has ordered the immediate halt of the sheriff's office using the Flock license plate reading system, citing privacy concerns and a new Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) directive. The move comes after FDOT told law enforcement agencies statewide to remove Flock and similar cameras near state roads within 30 days. Titusville police also suspended their use of the system. The sheriff's office currently operates 19 Flock cameras across major highways in the county.
The decision follows reports of misuse, including allegations that a local deputy used the system to track an estranged girlfriend. Sheriff Ivey acknowledged in a Facebook video that Flock has helped solve serious crimes but expressed concerns about data access and privacy. 'The method the company collects the data and the access it allows to others has become a major concern,' Ivey said. He also suspended his department's access to the Flock nationwide database, including data from privately mounted cameras.
FDOT's directive, issued Monday, Aug. 31, requires removal of the cameras near state roads by Sept. 30. The agency did not specify reasons for the order but emphasized compliance with state laws. Ivey said his office will review alternatives for traffic monitoring while ensuring compliance with FDOT and privacy regulations.
The Flock system has been used in high-profile cases, including tracking suspects in drug and theft investigations. However, critics argue the technology's broad data collection poses risks. Ivey said the sheriff's office will continue evaluating the system's role in public safety but will not resume use until privacy issues are resolved.