ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A growing debate over Flock cameras is taking shape in St. Johns County, with residents raising concerns about privacy, cost and the expansion of surveillance technology in their community.
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The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office says it operates 180 license plate readers and uses them to help locate stolen vehicles as well as wanted and missing persons.
Officials say the cameras capture vehicles and license plates, but do not identify drivers or continuously track their movements.
The agency also states it has strict auditing and oversight procedures in place and has not identified any intentional misuse of the system by its personnel.
The cameras were not on Tuesday’s agenda, but residents still showed up to voice their concerns and ask for more public input on the technology.
Some say they would rather see that money invested in programs and projects that bring the community together, not surveillance technology that makes them feel watched.
“Are there better ways that we could spend that money that would actually make us a safer community? Things like community gardens, edible forests, after school programs, adult education programs,” said Brian Seymour, a St. Johns County resident.
Others say they aren’t necessarily opposed to the cameras but want the public to have a say in how they are used.
“We can keep the cameras, but if the public decides that these cameras are not effective enough. If the public decides that we’re spending too much money, or if the public decides that it’s an infringement, the public should be able to make the decision as to whether or not we should keep them,” said Riley Willis, Deflock St. Johns Founder.