Local police suspend license plate reader program following state directive

Both the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and Pensacola Police Department have suspended their use of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) camera networks, according to announcements made Tuesday. The local action follows a statewide directive issued Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration.

ALPR systems use cameras to automatically capture and record license plate information from vehicles, a technology that has been deployed by law enforcement agencies across Florida for investigative purposes. The suspension affects both agencies' ability to utilize the camera networks for ongoing operations.

The state-level decision to suspend ALPR operations represents a significant shift in how Florida law enforcement conducts vehicle tracking and investigation. Details regarding the duration of the suspension or the specific reasoning behind the state directive were not immediately available from either local agency.

Both ECSO and PPD have not yet announced when the suspension might be lifted or whether alternative methods will be implemented to replace the technology's investigative capabilities.