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Okaloosa County commissioners press for audits and disclosure after presentation on license‑plate readers
Summary
County staff briefed the board on multiple uses of license‑plate readers (tolling, school‑zone enforcement and investigative queries) and said the sheriff's office contracts with a vendor (Flock Safety) and controls the data; commissioners and members of the public raised privacy, access and audit concerns and asked staff to follow up with potential audit provisions and clearer signage.
Okaloosa County staff provided an informational briefing on license‑plate reader (LPR) technology on Jan. 6, outlining several forms the cameras serve — toll collection, red‑light/speed enforcement in some municipal school zones, and investigative 'query' cameras used by law enforcement. The presenter described the sheriff’s office contract with a company identified in the briefing as Flock Safety and said the sheriff’s office is the contract owner and data custodian, with the vendor hosting footage and reads in a cloud‑based system.
Jason Autry (presenter) explained that a recent count showed 28 active cameras on 26 county roadways after the removal of one unit, and described LPRs as a law‑enforcement 'manpower multiplier' for stolen vehicles, missing persons and other investigations. Autry told the board that the vendor has stated it does not release customer data unless authorized by the contract owner and that some data could be subject to subpoenas or other legal processes.
Commissioner Sherry Cox and others raised constitutional‑style privacy concerns about third‑party contractors holding vehicle‑movement data and asked whether officers and marked vehicles are being tracked. Cox pressed for accountability and suggested signage or visible badging for devices to distinguish enforcement cameras from security or 'spy' devices. Several commissioners proposed audit options and requested that staff confer with the sheriff’s office to determine what audit reports, access logs or contractual assurances can be provided.
County staff said they will not permit right‑of‑way permits for devices that create citations and that they will continue conversations with the sheriff's office about potential audit and data‑integrity provisions. The briefing was informational; no board action was taken, but commissioners asked staff to return with more information and to share permit lists upon request.
Key details • Vendor/contract: presenter identified vendor as Flock Safety; contract holder is the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, per the briefing. • Camera inventory: presenter reported 28 cameras on 26 county rights of way (one previously permitted unit removed), and noted that the sheriff’s office provided a summary of investigative uses. • Data custody: presenter stated the sheriff’s office owns the data, the vendor hosts it in the cloud, and vendor materials assert they do not sell customer data; staff warned court orders or subpoenas could compel disclosure.
What’s next Staff will follow up with the sheriff’s office about feasible audit logs or reporting that can be shared with the county and consider signage or public disclosure of LPR locations where appropriate. The board did not restrict the sheriff's use of the existing contract but said it wants greater transparency for citizens.
