270 cameras remain in Pinellas as county delays license plate reader ban

Pinellas County has 270 stationary automated license plate reader cameras on its roads, according to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. That number does not include the 560 dash cameras mounted in patrol vehicles that also use the technology. Commissioners on Tuesday chose not to ban the devices, opting instead to wait for a state-level decision.

The issue was listed in the new business portion of the agenda, a section typically reserved for new resolutions. After a discussion, the board agreed to hold off on a formal vote. They plan to lobby the state to address the technology during its upcoming legislative session. Commissioner Chris Latvala said he wants to see if the Legislature acts next year. If state lawmakers do not move, the commission could revisit a local ban after that session ends.

Commissioner Vince Nowicki first proposed the ban this summer. He cited an overwhelming outcry from residents concerned about government tracking of their private lives. Speaking after the Tuesday meeting, Nowicki expressed frustration with the lack of progress. "It’s interesting that folks agree that something needs to get done, but nobody wants to do anything," Nowicki said.

Sheriff Gualtieri attended the meeting to answer questions about the technology. When Commissioner Latvala asked what the Sheriff’s Office would do if a local ban passed, Gualtieri responded with a shrug. "I’ll just move them. Put them up somewhere else," Gualtieri said. "You probably got to start with your own." He noted that when the Florida Department of Transportation banned readers on state roads, the cameras were simply relocated rather than removed.

The Sheriff’s Office has used these readers since 2006. Gualtieri said the department uses cameras from Axon, Flock, and Motorola. These devices are mounted in dashboards and on stationary road fixtures. Private businesses and neighborhood associations also operate their own cameras. Artificial intelligence has automated the process, allowing cameras to log vast amounts of data that can be shared between jurisdictions.

Commissioner Rene Flowers argued against a ban. She said she could not support stopping the use of a tool that helps solve crimes. Instead, she advocated for tighter protocols on when data can be accessed. "Technology is good until somebody utilizes it for the wrong reason," Flowers said. "And when someone utilizes it for the wrong reason, that’s when it becomes a problem."

Public interest in the cameras has grown after reports that deputies, including one in Pinellas, misused the readers to track people they were romantically interested in. Gualtieri said he has spoken with state lawmakers and believes it is highly likely the technology will be discussed in the upcoming legislative session.