From Flock to Finish: County Road License Plate Readers Get the Boot
County Road right-of-way surveillance cameras to be set for removal upon license agreement termination on September 30, 2026.
In a significant win for privacy-minded residents, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco announced he is terminating the interlocal agreement that allowed automated license plate reader cameras on county rights-of-way. The agreement ends September 30, 2026.
The Board of County Commissioners had unanimously approved the deal in December 2024, paving the way for roughly 60 Sheriff’s Office cameras that scan plates, vehicle details, and locations around the clock. Growing public pushback over privacy and mass data collection changed the picture. At recent commission meetings, residents voiced strong concerns about warrantless surveillance, data retention, and how information could be used or shared. Commissioners made clear a majority no longer supports the arrangement.
Nocco stated he reached the decision after listening to those discussions. He expressed disappointment, arguing the cameras help solve crimes and locate missing or endangered people, and warned that ending the program will strain resources. He also thanked commissioners who continued to back the technology.
Earlier this month the Sheriff’s Office had already begun moving from Flock Safety cameras to Axon systems, citing lower cost and better integration with existing equipment. That vendor switch does not change the larger outcome: the county-road authorization itself is ending. Cameras on private property (HOAs, businesses, stores) and those in state-maintained rights-of-way remain outside this decision.
The risks of these systems have long been highlighted—continuous tracking of ordinary drivers, potential for misuse, and the principle that public safety tools should not quietly expand into everyday surveillance. Residents showed up, spoke up, and helped force a reevaluation. The September 30 deadline means the Sheriff’s Office cameras currently operating under the county agreement should come down.
