Florida Governor DeSantis Blocks License Plate Reader Use on State Roads Despite Prior Funding Approvals
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has blocked the use of license plate readers on state roads, citing concerns about a potential 'surveillance state' and the misuse of personal movement data. This decision comes despite DeSantis having approved approximately $4.6 million in requests from local law enforcement agencies for these very devices over the past year, specifically for illegal immigration enforcement efforts. The State Board of Immigration Enforcement, which includes DeSantis and other state officials, has approved about $147 million in grants from a $250 million fund for local police related to illegal immigration enforcement, with $21 million already disbursed. The cameras, manufactured by companies like Flock Safety, utilize artificial intelligence to track vehicles, detect make, model, color, and speed, and can operate in low-light conditions. Law enforcement agencies had been transparent about their intent, with some, like St. Johns County, planning to deploy them in high-traffic areas such as I-9... 
