Uthmeier calls for limits on license plate readers

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says automated license plate readers have helped catch criminals and rescue children, but argues their use became too widespread and lawmakers need new restrictions on surveillance and data.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says automated license plate readers have legitimate crime-fighting uses, but agrees Florida needs stronger protections to prevent the technology from becoming a tool for widespread government or private surveillance.

Uthmeier addressed the growing controversy over Flock and other automated license plate recognition systems Monday, saying there have been documented abuses and that the cameras became too widespread.

“I think that there were a lot of abuses,” Uthmeier said, pointing to reports of officers using the technology to track former girlfriends and other people. “I do think these things were overly broadly used.”

His comments come as the Florida Department of Transportation moves to revoke approvals for ALPR cameras on state highway rights-of-way and several North Florida law enforcement agencies suspend or end their participation in Flock programs.

Uthmeier wants limits on data

Uthmeier said he plans to work with Gov. Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers on legislation establishing new protections.

Among his concerns is the amount of information accumulated by private companies operating camera networks.

“We should not have private companies out there that are monetizing, selling, or widely disseminating data outside of its purpose,” Uthmeier said.

He also said vehicle-location data should not be stored for long periods of time.

AG says cameras have helped save lives

Uthmeier stopped short of supporting an outright ban.

He said narrowly tailored uses of the technology have helped law enforcement catch dangerous criminals and rescue victims.

“We’ve put away hundreds of child predators using some of this technology,” Uthmeier said. “We’ve rescued children using this technology.”

Uthmeier also said the technology helped authorities capture the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump.

“So there are legitimate uses,” he said. “It does save lives and put bad guys away.”

‘There needs to be balance’

The attorney general said Florida’s challenge now is drawing a line between legitimate law enforcement investigations and widespread surveillance of people who are not suspected of crimes.

Uthmeier said most Florida sheriffs have used the technology appropriately, but government rules should be written with the possibility of abuse in mind.

“We always have to assume the worst in government and protect our individuals from unlawful government encroachment,” Uthmeier said.

He described the issue as complex but said the objective is straightforward.

“There needs to be balance,” Uthmeier said. “We need to put bad guys away, but we also need to make sure these things are not all over communities. That is wrong.”