CORAL SPRINGS, FL — The Coral Springs Police Department is making its case for license plate readers.
In a social media post structured as a "myth vs. fact" rebuttal, the department addressed public concerns about its use of the automated cameras, sometimes referred to by the manufacturer's name, Flock Safety. The post lays out what the department says the technology does and does not do.
According to the department, the cameras capture license plates and vehicle characteristics to help identify vehicles connected to reported crimes. The post states the readers do not identify drivers or passengers and are not used to monitor daily activities.
Access to the data is limited to authorized department personnel for legitimate law enforcement purposes and is governed by department policy and applicable law, according to the post.
The department pointed to what it described as measurable results. Coral Springs Police reported a year-to-date violent crime clearance rate of 63%, which the department said is above the national average of 35% to 40%. The post credited the technology with helping recover stolen vehicles, locate wanted offenders, identify suspects in robberies and homicides, and generate leads faster than traditional investigative methods.
The department also compared the readers to other everyday technologies, including cell phones, navigation apps, toll systems, security cameras and banking transactions, arguing the cameras serve a specific law enforcement purpose.
Public response to the post was mixed. Many of the top comments questioned data retention, the comparison to consumer technology that residents can choose to use, and how the department distinguishes between innocent drivers and vehicles connected to crimes. Some commenters pushed back on individual "facts" listed in the post.
The department did not specify how many license plate readers are currently deployed in Coral Springs, how long captured data is retained, how many searches have been conducted year to date, or where a public policy governing the program can be reviewed. The post did not link to a policy document or a public log.
The website deflock.org, which crowdsources and maps reported Flock Safety camera locations, lists more than 80 cameras in Coral Springs. The site is user-submitted and is not affiliated with the city or the department.
Coral Springs is one of many South Florida agencies using Flock Safety cameras or similar license plate reader technology. Debate over the systems has grown, with some municipalities across the country scaling back contracts and others expanding coverage.
The department said its commitment is to keep Coral Springs one of the safest communities in Florida.
The full "myth vs. fact" statement remains posted on the Coral Springs Police Department's official social media channels.
More from around the city in our Coral Springs coverage.
