The vote followed a petition launched in July by DeFlock St. Johns, a local group opposing the cameras. Founder Debra Campbell said she felt vindicated by the decision. She acknowledged that the readers can help investigators but said that usefulness does not justify what she called warrantless searches.

Rich Kolko, a former FBI agent with 21 years in the bureau, criticized removing the technology altogether. He said license plate readers can help solve crimes, save lives and locate missing children, while also recognizing that the systems have been misused and raise privacy concerns. He characterized a blanket removal as an overreaction.

The dispute has sharpened after Gov. Ron DeSantis directed the Florida Department of Transportation to withdraw permits for automated license plate readers on state roads, citing privacy concerns. The order came amid reports of officers using license plate data to track former partners.

Law enforcement officials have also pointed to the potential investigative cost of losing access. Baker County Sheriff Scotty Rhoden said the removal of at least one camera near Interstate 10 hampered an investigation into a shooting that injured a 6-year-old and an 11-year-old as they rode in their mother’s car. Rhoden said the previous night that the loss of the technology delayed efforts to find a suspect.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said it disagrees with the county’s decision, warning that it could affect community safety. The agency said it supports legislation establishing clear rules for using the technology and addressing privacy concerns.

The county’s action puts the focus on a central question for residents and officials: whether safeguards and clear limits can address misuse while preserving a tool law enforcement says can aid urgent investigations.