Fort Pierce, FL — Officials in St. Lucie County, Florida, have discovered 14 unauthorized Flock Safety license-plate readers installed along public roads, raising new questions about who placed the surveillance cameras there and who has access to the data they collected.
The cameras surfaced as the county reviewed 52 previously authorized automated license-plate readers ahead of their removal. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office subsequently claimed ownership of three of the unpermitted devices, leaving 11 without a publicly identified owner. County officials have posted removal notices requiring the cameras to come down in October.
The discovery comes amid growing scrutiny of Flock systems in the region. Former Fort Pierce police officer Josepher Crutchfield was arrested in September after investigators said he searched Flock’s database 382 times for a vehicle registered to his former girlfriend, mostly while off duty and without a legitimate law-enforcement purpose.
The case prompted Fort Pierce police to tighten access to the system, while Florida transportation officials separately ordered automated license-plate readers removed from state highways.
Flock says permitting requirements vary by jurisdiction and that it is willing to assist St. Lucie County. The unexplained cameras nevertheless highlight a basic oversight problem: powerful surveillance equipment was operating on public property without county officials initially knowing who installed it.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
