NewsWUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)September 1, 2026Hillsborough
Governor DeSantis orders removal of state-funded license plate readers from roads
Governor Ron DeSantis has directed law enforcement agencies to remove automatic license plate readers from state roads, despite having approved $4.6 million in funding for the devices over the past year. The funding was originally granted to support local agencies in their illegal immigration enforcement efforts.
Read the full story at WUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)Why It Matters
This directive reverses the state's previous financial support for surveillance technology on public roads, impacting the operational tools available to local law enforcement agencies that received the $4.6 million in grants.
Key Facts
Each fact below is taken from the article. Click one to see the exact passage.
Who's Mentioned
personRon DeSantis“Blocked camera use while overseeing the board that funded them”personWilton Simpson“Member of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement”organizationFDOT“Florida Department of Transportation, which issued the directive to remove the d”organizationFlock Safety“Manufacturer of license plate reader cameras”organizationFlorida Department of Transportation“Revoked permits for cameras on state land”personBlaise Ingoglia“Member of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement”organizationState Board of Immigration Enforcement“Approved $4.6 million in grants for license plate readers”personJames Uthmeier“Member of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement”personGordon Smith“Ordered removal of cameras county-wide”personWayne Ivey“Terminated agency use of Flock cameras”personWill Watts“Issued the memo revoking camera permits”