Fort Myers Beach has removed all Flock Safety license plate reader cameras from its bridges and roads. This action follows a vote by the Fort Myers Beach Council last month to cancel the town’s contract for the six cameras. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office previously had access to the data from these cameras, as the Fort Myers Beach Talk reported.
The Town Council initially approved the cameras in 2022, and a five-year contract for $15,000 annually was approved in 2023. The cameras were located at:
- Two on Matanzas Pass Bridge
- Two on Big Carlos Pass Bridge
- Two near the Times Square area
Town Manager Will McKannay recommended canceling the contract, citing concerns about the town's lack of oversight. He stated he was "not comfortable with the current contract structure" because the town paid for installation but had no role in operation or monitoring. McKannay also noted that while the town had a strong relationship with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, there were no formal agreements to protect the town’s interests regarding the cameras. This decision impacts drivers who previously had their license plates scanned at these locations, effectively reducing the number of automated surveillance points on the island. You can review other local camera locations on our /map.
What prompted these removals?
The cancellation by Fort Myers Beach aligns with broader actions across Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the Florida Department of Transportation to remove all Flock Safety cameras on state roads due to privacy concerns. The Department of Transportation gave local municipalities and police departments a 30-day window last month to comply with this directive for cameras on state rights-of-way. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno confirmed the office would comply with state orders, acknowledging public concerns about the “double edged sword” of technology.
The Sheriff's Office still operates Flock Safety cameras in other parts of Lee County that are not on state roads. The Town Manager did not rule out reinstating license plate readers in the future if new agreements could address the town's concerns about oversight and data access.
What should drivers ask local officials?
For drivers, the removal of these cameras means fewer points where their vehicle's location and movements are automatically recorded in Fort Myers Beach. However, the Lee County Sheriff's Office continues to use these cameras elsewhere in the county. Drivers interested in their local surveillance landscape might ask their city council or county commissioners:
- Are there existing contracts for license plate readers in our area, and what are their terms?
- Which law enforcement agencies have access to the data collected by these cameras?
- What oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure data privacy and prevent misuse?
Understanding the policies governing these cameras can help residents stay informed about how their data is collected and used. For more information on how these systems work, visit our /learn section.