Documented Incident
Clermont and Groveland Police Suspend ALPR Programs Pending Clearer Florida Rules
Event: September 1, 2026 · First reported: September 3, 2026 · 1 source
Police departments in Clermont and Groveland, Florida, have suspended their automated license plate reader programs, citing unresolved questions about privacy, data retention, access and oversight. Clermont Police Chief John Graczyk announced the immediate suspension on September 1, saying the department will wait for clearer direction from the Florida Legislature. Groveland disabled its two Flock Safety cameras on State Road 50 and cut off system access for all department personnel while governance questions are reviewed. Both departments said the technology had produced investigative value, and neither has said whether or when the cameras might return.
Two neighboring agencies pausing an active surveillance tool over governance gaps rather than performance offers a model other departments may look to while state-level ALPR rules remain unsettled.
Key facts
- Clermont Police Chief John Graczyk announced the immediate suspension on September 1, 2026.
- Clermont said it will wait for guidance from the Florida Legislature on ALPR use, retention, access and sharing.
- Groveland suspended two Flock Safety cameras at the city's eastern and western entrances along State Road 50, and revoked system access for all department personnel.
- Acting Groveland Police Chief Armando Loney said stepping back was appropriate while oversight and governance questions are examined.
- Both departments credited ALPR with helping in cases involving stolen vehicles, missing persons and serious felonies; whether the programs resume is unresolved.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Police Hit Pause On License Plate Cameras: Clermont and Groveland Suspend ALPR Programs, Citing Privacy Concerns, Oversight Questions And The Need For Clearer Rules (South Lake Tablet, September 3, 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 September 3, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.