Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri delivered a blistering defense of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) before county commissioners on Thursday, dismissing recent rhetoric as “political hype.”
Commissioner Vince Nowicki introduced a resolution in September that, if approved, would terminate all county-level contracts, subscriptions, and data-sharing agreements with ALPR providers. He and his colleagues agreed to defer a vote until after Gualtieri’s workshop presentation.
Gualtieri pulled no punches, and immediately sought to reframe public dialogue on the rapidly evolving surveillance technology. He chided critics for conflating all vendors with one company – Flock Safety.
“Flock has become a four-letter word, an adjective,” Gualtieri said. “So, I’m going to refer to this by its right name, the way I think we should refer to it unless we’re being pejorative, and call it ALPR.”
Gualtieri, president of the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), then played a video the organization created that espoused the benefits of ALPRs. Commissioners heard how the technology has helped locate a senior with Alzheimer’s disease and a 6-year-old abduction victim.
Approximately 90 minutes later, Nowicki, referencing an email from a constituent, asked if the three leading ALPR providers were “major” MCSA sponsors. “They are; what’s your point?” Gualtieri replied.
Nowicki noted that the companies – Flock, Axon and Motorola – are county vendors, and the MCSA often advocates for its sponsors. A tense response ensued.
“Don’t go there,” began Gualtieri. “What you’re insinuating is offensive. I’m not being bought and paid by anybody, and that’s a bunch of BS.”
Nowicki reiterated that the commission received a related email. “I don’t care what you got,” interjected Gualtieri. “I don’t get the sponsors or have anything to do with the sponsors.”
Nowicki subsequently apologized. The commission did not discuss his resolution Thursday.
Gualtieri’s presentation comes amid increasing public concerns over the technology and follows the recent arrest of two deputies for allegedly misusing law enforcement databases to stalk women.
In late August, the Florida Department of Transportation gave local agencies until Sept. 30 to remove all ALPRs from state rights-of-way. Gualtieri said 52 in Pinellas are “either down awaiting movement to someplace else, or they’ve already been moved to someplace else.
Another 159 AI-driven cameras are on city (63) or county (52) roads. Gualtieri added that 63 ALPRs are on private property.
State law enforcement agencies continue to utilize 355 systems on FDOT-controlled roads in the county, Gualtieri said. “They’re still up and running.”
Gualtieri drew a sharp distinction between still photos of license plates taken by ALPRs and invasive cellular tracking and continuous video monitoring. “It doesn’t tell you who’s in the car, doesn’t tell you who’s driving the car and has nothing to do with an individual person,” he said.
Dozens of federal and state courts have rejected Fourth Amendment challenges to ALPR use, as license plates are state-owned property displayed in public areas with no expectation of privacy. Gualtieri highlighted several local success stories, including a case where ALPR data provided the sole lead in an execution-style homicide.
He also repeatedly acknowledged the need for additional oversight and stronger guardrails. Gualtieri, however, also pointed to the recent arrests of two former deputies, who both face multiple felony charges, as proof that even the strictest policies cannot entirely prevent misconduct.
One deputy allegedly used tightly controlled state and national databases to stalk a 17-year-old girl. The other submitted 381 queries, including 300 ALPR searches, regarding a woman he had previously arrested.
Gualtieri admitted that internal audits failed to flag the misconduct because the deputy falsified required legitimate investigative reasons for using the system.“Unfortunately, sadly, it’s a people problem,” he said.
Commissioner Brian Scott expressed concern about nationwide data-sharing agreements after Gualtieri said some Florida agencies “don’t have a policy; they’re not doing audits.”
“A lot of them do have the same protections in place,” Gualtieri said of partner agencies. “That’s something that is under discussion. Nobody wants to have the data compromised.”
ALPR manufacturers are enhancing AI algorithms to better detect anomalies and unauthorized queries, Gualtieri said. He also expects state lawmakers to introduce new statewide policies this year.
The challenge, he added, is identifying a balanced approach. “You don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water,” Gualtieri said.
“We need audits, we need accountability. There’s no question about it.”
