The Lake County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to remove Flock Safety automated license plate readers from county-controlled rights-of-way, following weeks of growing debate over privacy, public safety and the use of surveillance technology.

The decision came during a tense commission meeting in Tavares, where more than 15 residents spoke against the cameras during public comment.

Flock cameras automatically photograph passing vehicles and collect information such as license plate numbers, locations and the time a vehicle was recorded. Law enforcement agencies can use the system to search for vehicles connected to criminal investigations, stolen vehicles and missing-person cases.

Several Lake County residents urged commissioners to remove the cameras, arguing that the technology creates a broad surveillance network that collects information on people who have not committed a crime.

Critics have also questioned how long the information is retained, who can access it and how data collected in one jurisdiction can potentially be accessed by other law enforcement agencies.

The issue has been gaining momentum in Lake County for weeks. Residents previously addressed the commission in July, asking officials to reconsider the technology and raising concerns about potential abuse and constitutional rights.

Commissioner Anthony Sabatini placed the issue on Tuesday's agenda and pushed for the county to move forward with removing the cameras.

Sabatini has been a vocal opponent of the technology, arguing that Lake County can maintain public safety without creating what he described as a mass surveillance network.

During Tuesday's meeting, Sabatini said, “Somehow we've slipped into a mass surveillance state and we need to get out of it.”

The commission ultimately voted to rescind authorization for Flock cameras located within county rights-of-way.

The affected cameras will be turned off and removed, with operators given up to 30 days to take them down.

The vote came despite a request from Commission Chairwoman Leslie Campione to wait until Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell could attend a future meeting and provide information about the technology's benefits and drawbacks.

Campione said she wanted commissioners to hear directly from the sheriff before making a final decision.

Commissioners did vote to invite Sheriff Grinnell to a future meeting to discuss the issue.

Law enforcement agencies have defended Flock cameras as an important investigative tool, saying the technology can help officers locate stolen vehicles, identify vehicles connected to crimes and find missing or endangered people.

Lake County's decision comes just one day after the Florida Department of Transportation announced that it was revoking permits for automated license plate readers installed along state roads.

Under the FDOT directive, agencies with cameras located in state rights-of-way have 30 days to remove them. The department also stopped accepting new requests to install the cameras within its jurisdiction.

The state action cited concerns surrounding misuse, data privacy and surveillance.

Several Central Florida law enforcement agencies have since announced changes to their use of the technology.

In neighboring South Lake County, the Groveland Police Department announced Tuesday that it has suspended the use of all Flock Safety cameras in the city, including suspending personnel access to the Flock system. Groveland had two cameras positioned at the eastern and western entrances to the city along State Road 50.

Other agencies around Central Florida, including those in Eustis, Lady Lake, Sanford and Volusia County, have also suspended or discontinued their use of license plate readers.

The Lake County Commission's action specifically applies to Flock license plate readers authorized within county-controlled rights-of-way.

It does not necessarily prohibit Flock cameras located on municipal or private property within Lake County.

The decision marks a significant change from the county's previous position. Lake County authorized the use of license plate readers in county rights-of-way in 2022 following requests from law enforcement agencies.

Now, commissioners are moving in the opposite direction as concerns about privacy and oversight continue to grow.

For residents, the debate highlights a larger question facing communities across Florida: How should law enforcement balance new technology that can help solve crimes with residents' expectations of privacy?

That conversation is likely to continue at both the local and state levels as officials determine what rules should govern license plate reader technology going forward.