Law enforcement agencies across Lake and Sumter counties are suspending or ending automated license plate reader programs as privacy concerns and new state restrictions reshape the future of the technology.

The rapid succession of announcements has also created confusion over what kinds of cameras agencies use, what information they collect and whether every roadside device is part of a law enforcement surveillance system.

In Clermont, that distinction makes a difference.

Clermont Police Capt. Malcolm Draper says Clermont did not use Flock Safety cameras. The Automated License Plate Reader program used Motorola Solutions’ Vigilant system, which only captured images of license plates along public roadways.

The readers did not photograph people’s faces or use the artificial intelligence capabilities that have become part of the broader public debate over camera systems, Draper said. A license plate image alone did not identify a vehicle’s occupants. Investigators had to take additional steps and consult separate databases to determine the registered owner or identify someone inside the vehicle.

Clermont’s readers were also different from some Flock systems located on private property, he said. Although the terms “Flock cameras” and “license plate readers” are often being used interchangeably, Flock is a specific company, while automated license plate reader is a broader term for technology that photographs and records plate information. Systems can differ in their locations, ownership, features and the information they collect.

Draper said other equipment along roadways can add to the confusion. Cameras or camera-like devices may be used by transportation agencies or contractors to count traffic, study travel patterns, adjust signal timing or determine whether a road needs to be redesigned. Those devices are not necessarily license plate readers or Flock cameras.

The local announcements began Tuesday, Sept. 1, after the Lake County Commission voted unanimously to revoke authorization for Flock Safety cameras in county rights of way. The decision followed a Florida Department of Transportation directive requiring automated license plate readers to be removed from state roads.

Leesburg was the first Lake County municipality to announce Tuesday that its cameras would be removed. By late Tuesday-Wednesday, Clermont, Groveland, Mount Dora, Lady Lake, Minneola and Eustis had announced similar actions. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office also suspended its use of Flock cameras.

More cities and law enforcement agencies are expected to announce decisions as officials review the state directive, existing contracts and local concerns. This is a developing list and will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Although the actions are widely being described as bans, the agencies have not all taken the same step. Some have terminated their programs, while others have characterized their decisions as temporary suspensions pending additional guidance.

The Clermont Police Department announced the immediate suspension of its Automated License Plate Reader program Tuesday, citing public concerns and a changing legal and policy landscape.

Police Chief John Graczyk says the readers have assisted officers investigating robberies, kidnappings and other serious felonies. The technology has also helped locate missing people and recover stolen property.

However, the department acknowledged concerns about privacy, access to information, data retention, information sharing and safeguards against unauthorized use. Clermont will discontinue the technology until the Florida Legislature provides clearer guidance governing the use, regulation, retention, access and sharing of license plate reader data.

Groveland also immediately suspended its Flock program and blocked all Police Department personnel from accessing the system.

The city has two cameras at its eastern and western entry points along State Road 50 which have since been covered up. Police said the cameras had been used to locate stolen vehicles, identify vehicles connected to criminal investigations and support other public safety efforts.

“The decision to pause the department’s use of this system was made out of an abundance of caution while concerns regarding the oversight and governance of the technology are evaluated,” Acting Groveland Police Chief Armando Loney says.

The department said it will rely on traditional investigative methods and other available resources while the suspension remains in effect.

Mount Dora went a step further, announcing that its Police Department had decided to terminate its Flock license plate reader deployment in response to public concerns and state and county directives.

“We recognize the importance of balancing public safety with privacy, transparency, and community trust,” the department says in its statement.

Lady Lake Police Chief Steve Hunt said his department would suspend its license plate reader program in accordance with the state’s direction.

Hunt said the department was disappointed to lose a tool that had helped officers locate stolen vehicles, identify wanted individuals, develop leads in criminal investigations and search for missing or endangered people. He also acknowledged questions about privacy, data usage and the proper role of the technology.

Supporters of automated license plate readers point to their use in cases involving stolen vehicles, missing people and violent crimes. Critics argue that collecting and retaining drivers’ location information creates opportunities for surveillance, data sharing and misuse.

Lake County’s decision came after commissioners heard heated objections from residents concerned about privacy. The commission’s vote directed the county to deactivate and remove cameras authorized within county rights of way.

As state and local policies continue to develop, the future of automated license plate readers on municipal and county roads remains uncertain.

For a live, interactive map of Flock Safety cameras and other automated license plate readers across the United States, visit https://flockcameralocations.com/map.