Sheriff Chris Nocco ended Pasco County's license-plate reader program after two August commission meetings that split the board over privacy and public safety.

Nocco notified the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, Aug. 26, that he was terminating the interlocal agreement governing roughly 60 cameras in county rights-of-way. The cameras must come down by Wednesday, Sept. 30, Tampa Bay Beacons reported.

How the Program Began

The board had unanimously approved the agreement on Dec. 10, 2024. But the program unraveled over two meetings that split commissioners along Fourth Amendment and law-enforcement lines.

Aug. 11 Meeting: Vendor-Switch Vote Ends in 2-2 Tie

At the Aug. 11 meeting, Commissioner Lisa Yeager moved to renew the contract immediately. The new deal would have switched vendors from Flock Safety to Axon, saving about $50,000, according to Tampa Bay 28. Commission Chair Jack Mariano asked Yeager whether she had read the new contract. She said she had not.

Mariano and Commissioner Ron Oakley voted against the motion. Commissioner Kathryn Starkey sided with Yeager. Commissioner Seth Weightman was absent.

Undersheriff Chase Daniels walked the board through the program's safeguards. Data is purged after 30 days, 23 months shorter than the two-year maximum Florida law allows. Searches are restricted to felonies and select misdemeanors, each tied to a case number, and access is audited.

Mariano said he did not accuse the Sheriff's Office of misusing the system but framed his opposition around the Fourth Amendment and constituent concerns.

"I don't have any problem with the way you guys have actually done it," he told Daniels. "The compilation of all the data is where the problem is."

Aug. 25 Meeting: Public Testimony Splits Over Privacy and Safety

At the Aug. 25 meeting, most speakers opposed the cameras, citing civil liberties concerns and alleged data misuse in other jurisdictions. A smaller group, including off-duty officers and Fraternal Order of Police representatives, argued the cameras had helped solve homicides, recover trafficking victims and find missing children and dementia patients.

The commission directed staff to convene a task force of residents and experts to study plate readers, drones and related surveillance technology. A public workshop would be required before any future program is considered. No date for the task force has been announced.

Sheriff Cites Contract Clause in Terminating Program

Nocco's letter arrived the next day. He cited Section 3, Paragraph 3 of the interlocal agreement as the legal basis for termination.

Nocco wrote that the board's lack of support would hurt the office's ability to solve crimes and locate missing and endangered people, including trafficking victims. He wrote that it was disappointing that a majority of commissioners did not trust the Sheriff's Office or its deputies, according to Tampa Bay 28's reporting on the letter.

Nocco, who is running in a special election for Florida Senate District 21, also thanked the commissioners who supported law enforcement.

About 110 Private Cameras Will Remain in Operation

The termination removes roughly 60 county cameras. Another 110 cameras owned by homeowners associations, retail stores, gas stations and other private entities will remain in operation. Pasco County had about 170 cameras total, including private ones, as of Aug. 10.

Mariano welcomed the decision. In an open letter to constituents, he called it a Fourth Amendment victory and wrote that local government must resist mass surveillance.

The commission has not set a date for the task force or the public workshop.