Hernando County, Florida – The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is set to hold a public workshop on March 10 to discuss the use of Flock cameras, including automatic License Plate Readers (LPRs), in the county. The workshop was previously scheduled, but controversy erupted on social media and in letters to The Hernando Sun after Commissioner Brian Hawkins submitted a draft Interlocal Agreement between the County and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) concerning LPR technology on February 24.
The agreement, which was created after a February 10 meeting where Commissioner Ryan Amsler requested Hawkins work with County Attorney Jon Jouben on developing language for the agreement, aims to address concerns about privacy and Constitutional rights. Hawkins explained that the item was submitted in good faith and was created to develop a document that is lawful, Constitutional, and protects community concerns. The draft agreement includes a section that governs the length of data retention and practices, stating that LPR data must be maintained in a secure database accessible only to authorized personnel of a criminal justice agency.
The workshop will still be held on March 10, and the commissioners will discuss the proposed Interlocal Agreement and the use of Flock cameras in Hernando County. The public is invited to attend and provide input on the issue. More information can be found on the Hernando County Government website or by contacting the BOCC office.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
