SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A law firm has sent a letter to Seminole County demanding officials end a contract with Flock Group, Inc., a technology company that installs and operates license plate readers.
The letter obtained by News 6 claims the contract violates state law and argues that since Flock is “engaged in the business of furnishing private investigations,” the company is legally required to possess a private agency license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
“They’re private companies that are exercising the same rights and privileges as detectives, private eyes basically, which are highly regulated and licensed in the state of Florida. And that’s not happening here,” said attorney Anthony Sabatini, whose firm sent the letter to the county.
Anthony Sabatini, who is also a commissioner in Lake County and former state representative, told News 6 that the Texas Department of Public Safety previously sent a cease-and-desist letter to the same company, and he believes Florida should follow suit.
“We’re just sort of following their lead here,” said Sabatini.
When asked about the broad nature of the term “private investigative agencies,” Sabatini told News 6, “They’re collecting data and surveilling people during most instances of their lives for profit. So therefore, I do think they do fall under the statute.”
The Florida statute in question, Chapter 493, covers private investigative, private security and repossession services.
“I mean, it is an open question in the sense that it hasn’t been interpreted yet by a body of a court. But we’re arguing that we think the statute clearly covers them and they should be highly regulated,” Sabatini added.
Seminole County commissioners gave their approval for the sheriff’s office to mount automated license plate readers (ALPRs) on county traffic system infrastructure in 2023 to be used for “public safety, crime prevention and investigative purposes.”
Documents included in the public agenda addressed privacy concerns at that time. Staff noted that the images captured of license plates would be used for “official law enforcement purposes” and there would be guidelines. The Domestic Security Division within the sheriff’s office would routinely run audits. Also, the data that is collected automatically deletes after 30 days.
[WATCH: An inside look at license plate readers (from 2019)]
Our News 6 team has showcased how ALPRs helped track down stolen cars, catch unsuspecting criminals, and rescue children in counties across Central Florida.
In 2019, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told News 6 license plate readers were more effective than almost any other technology in recent history.
The documents presented to Seminole County’s commission in 2023 included several success stories, including a ALPR that scanned the license plate of a vehicle after an “extremely violent, brutal homicide in Volusia County.” The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office was able to arrest the suspect at a laundromat nearby.
Earlier this month, the city of Orlando unanimously backed a plan from the police department to install license plate readers at entrances and exits of select parking garages and a parking lot.
[VIDEO: City of Orlando approves license plate readers]
Our News 6 team reached out to Flock Safety and received the following response regarding the letter that was sent in Seminole County:
“Flock Safety is aware of the concerns raised regarding Chapter 493 of the Florida Statute. While Flock maintains that our products and services do not constitute private investigation services as defined by the statute, such claims are taken seriously as they should be.
“Flock have reviewed the letter mentioned and has not identified any enforcement authority of the law firm issuing this letter, a named client or damages suffered by the same, or basis for setting a 30-day period to respond. Flock, along with third-party legal experts, do not believe that the products and related technical support provided to SCSO require Florida private investigator licensing.
“That said, Flock is committed to customer support. As such, we have actively engaged with the SCSO and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and elected to initiate the process of obtaining a private investigator license in Florida in good faith.
“Flock employees are scheduled for the required exams and aligned to the application procedures: we have targeted having Florida Private Investigator applications ready in July.
“While we disagree with facts in the letter, we value our relationships with law enforcement agencies. We are committed to providing valuable tools that support public safety while complying with applicable regulatory frameworks.”
News 6 also reached out to Seminole County and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. They acknowledged they had received the letter, but they have not shared a public statement on the matter.
[READ the letter from Sabatini below]
Flock License Plate Reader Demand Letter by Christie Zizo on Scribd