Hollywood police share license plate data with agencies nationwide
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The Hollywood Police Department shares its license plate reader data with 365 agencies across the country, Miami New Times has found.
Why it matters: It's unclear how the data is being used.
Driving the news: Records obtained by New Times showed that the department shares its data with hundreds of law enforcement agencies across Florida and in states as far away as Maine, Washington and Arizona.
- This list also included federal agencies and a private railroad police department.
The latest: On Monday, the state's transportation department in a memo revoked all permits it had issued to police agencies for license plate reading cameras on state roads.
- The state said agencies have 30 days to remove the devices.
How it works: Flock and other automated license plate reader cameras are typically black rectangular boxes placed on poles near roads, intersections or parking areas.
- The cameras use AI to scan and store information like license plate numbers, vehicle models, colors, car makes, scratches, dents and bumper stickers.
The big picture: According to records obtained by DeFlock Broward, Hollywood started buying license plate reader cameras in 2014.
- The group claims that the city has spent at least $5.5 million on the program, which includes cameras made by Flock and Motorola Solutions.
- In 2024, the city purchased 60 Flock cameras for $459,000.
- DeFlock's open-source map shows dozens of cameras across the city. Broward has more than 860, according to the map.
What they're saying: A Hollywood Police spokesperson told New Times, "Access is given to the agencies for investigative purposes. You will have to reach out to the agencies to find out their specifics of use."
State of play: People have become increasingly wary of license plate readers over privacy concerns and fears of police misuse.
- Advocates say the cameras help quickly track down criminals and make cities safer, but opponents say they're a form of constant surveillance that infringes on residents' civil liberties.
Zoom out: Additionally, some police officers have been investigated over allegations they misused license plate reader data for personal reasons.
- A Haines City Police officer was arrested last month for allegedly searching his estranged wife's car 717 times in the Flock database between September 2024 and this past June.
Friction point: As backlash grows, some are calling on city officials to end contracts with Flock and other similar camera companies. Others are even vandalizing them.
- In July, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department found two Flock cameras in the Croissant Park neighborhood cut down, "melted and slashed."
- Activists held a "Stand Up for Privacy" rally across from a camera at a Davie intersection on Saturday to protest the Dave Police Department's use of the technology.