NewsFox 13 News (WTVT) — All NewsJuly 29, 2026Pinellas
St. Petersburg resident protests city's automated license plate cameras
A 77-year-old St. Petersburg resident is holding weekly protests to raise concerns about the city's use of automated license plate reader cameras. The city currently operates approximately 50 of these cameras, which track vehicle data for law enforcement investigations.
Read the full story at Fox 13 News (WTVT) — All NewsWhy It Matters
The city of St. Petersburg uses 50 automated cameras to track vehicle license plates, raising ongoing public questions about data retention policies and privacy protections for residents.
Key Facts
- St. Petersburg currently has approximately 50 Flock automated license plate reader cameras installed.
- The cameras capture vehicle images and compare them against law enforcement 'hot lists'.
- Carl Gunn is conducting weekly protests every Saturday to voice concerns regarding privacy and data surveillance.
- The next scheduled protest is this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the intersection of Third Street South and Sixth Avenue South.
- Flock Safety states that data sharing between agencies is disabled by default and requires manual activation by the data owner.
- Flock Safety claims every search performed on the system creates a permanent, immutable audit trail.
- Rekor Systems states that data retention periods for vehicle information vary based on the severity of the incident being investigated.
Who's Mentioned
organizationFlock Safety“The company that manufactures the automated license plate reader cameras used by”personCarl Gunn“A 77-year-old retired Florida resident protesting against automated surveillance”personCharles Degliomini“Vice president of Rekor Systems.”other50“The number of Flock cameras currently installed in St. Petersburg.”other77“The age of the protestor, Carl Gunn.”organizationRekor Systems“A company providing perspective on how law enforcement agencies utilize stored v”locationSt. Petersburg“The city where the cameras are installed and the protests are occurring.”