Florida's Department of Transportation has officially banned police from installing automatic licence plate readers (ALPRs) on state roads, becoming one of the first states to formally regulate the technology amid a broader backlash against providers such as Flock Safety. The decision, issued in a memorandum from DOT Chief Operating Officer Will Watts, was driven by Governor Ron DeSantis, who described the proliferation of the cameras as "out of control" and cited concerns over privacy, misuse and surveillance.

The memorandum revokes existing permits immediately and gives police 30 days from 31 August to remove readers from state roads, while the DOT will also stop issuing new permits within its jurisdiction. However, DeSantis has acknowledged this only covers a small fraction of the problem, since roughly 98% of ALPRs in Florida sit on local roads or private property, meaning further action from county authorities or new legislation would be needed for broader change. Jacksonville and Okaloosa county sheriffs have separately pledged to remove ALPRs, while similar pushback has emerged elsewhere in the US, including a suspended Flock contract by the Los Angeles Police Department, paused use in two Ohio counties, and halted state funding for Flock hardware in Texas under Governor Greg Abbott.