St. Johns County revokes road permits tied to plate readers

County revokes permits

St. Johns County revoked county road permits connected to license plate readers. The action affects permits for work on county roads, but the number of permits, the affected locations and the effective date were not stated.

FBI veteran calls removal an overreaction

An FBI veteran warned that removing license plate readers would be an overreaction. The warning adds a public-safety concern to the county’s permitting decision, but it does not change the county’s action.

What the decision means

License plate readers are cameras that record vehicle license plates. The devices can assist investigations by documenting vehicles seen at particular places and times. Their use also raises questions about privacy, access to records and how long information is kept.

The county’s revocation of road permits is a government decision about work or equipment affecting county roads. The action does not, by itself, establish how license plate readers may be used elsewhere or what rules apply to any remaining equipment.

Next steps

The county’s permit decision and any related records will show which permits were revoked and what happens to the affected installations. Any future action involving license plate readers will also determine whether the technology remains in use, is removed or is subject to revised requirements.