UNF student paper examines Flock ALPR expansion around Jacksonville campus

First reported: June 4, 2026 · 1 source

The UNF Spinnaker reported on the growing presence of Flock Safety automated license plate readers around the University of North Florida and greater Jacksonville, drawing on crowd-sourced mapping site DeFlock for camera counts near campus. Students interviewed expressed a mix of privacy unease and support for the cameras as a deterrent to dangerous driving. The article notes the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office expanded Flock use in the early 2020s as part of its Real-Time Crime Center initiative, and that JSO's transparency portal, launched in August 2024, does not list ALPR camera locations, search audit data, or hardware vendors.

Why this matters

The reporting highlights a common gap between agency transparency portals and the operational details residents would need to evaluate ALPR programs, leaving crowd-sourced maps as one of the few public sources on camera locations.

Key facts

DeFlock lists three Flock cameras on UNF Drive and Town Center Parkway, two on Kernan Blvd and First Coast Tech Parkway, and nine in St. Johns Town Center; the exact citywide and on-campus totals were not confirmed by officials.
Florida Statute 316.0777 keeps ALPR images and personal data confidential; the Florida Highway Patrol has opted into a public-facing portal detailing retention schedules, camera counts, and audit logs.
JSO's Transparency Portal, launched August 2024, does not disclose ALPR camera locations, search audit metrics, or vendors, according to the article.
A 2020 survey of 1,237 law enforcement agencies in 39 states found 40% used ALPR systems, up from 23% in 2009.
The ACLU has argued ALPRs require clear regulations to prevent large-scale government tracking of movements.

Sources

This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.

UNF weighs in as Flock Safety cameras expand in Jacksonville (unfspinnaker.com, June 4, 2026)

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About this record

BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.

Updated August 11, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.