DeSantis’ Flock camera removal order ‘going to take a hit on public safety,’ local officials say

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Some know them as Flock cameras.

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That’s one of many brands of automated license plate reader, or ALPR, cameras that are popping up all over the country and tracking drivers on the road.

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Now the Florida Department of Transportation and Gov. Ron DeSantis are calling for the cameras to come down on state roads and giving cities and counties only 30 days to do so.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner shared a fiery response, claiming he is “bringing legislation to take back control of our roads from the state.”

“Some of these have been in place for years,” he said. “We caught violent criminals, we’ve taken illegal guns, stolen vehicles have been tracked.”

Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro also weighed in, stating more than 90,000 cars travel along U.S. 1, one of those state roads, each day and license plate readers have been a vital tool for public safety.

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“It’s definitely going to take a hit on public safety,” she said. “We don’t use it to issue tickets.”

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz released a statement in which she said the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office would comply with the order immediately.