TAMPA, FL.- (September 1, 2026) – The Tampa Police Department has received a copy of the Florida Department of Transportation’s notice regarding the revocation of general use permits for Automated License Plate Readers. The department will fully comply with this decision, with the 17 ALPRs located within the right-of-way of a road on the State Highway System to be removed within the 30-day timeline outlined in the memorandum.
"Tampa is one of the safest cities of our size in the nation because of outstanding police work and because we have built trust with our community through collaboration and transparency," said Acting Chief Brett Owen. "ALPRs are an important investigative tool and have assisted in solving homicide and robbery cases as well as in locating missing people in our community. We will continue to evaluate new technologies with our ongoing focus on community trust, strict oversight, and transparency, ensuring Tampa remains one of the safest and most collaborative cities in the nation."
Our community can be assured that the Tampa Police Department has measures in place to ensure the technology is not misused by any member of the agency. The department will continue to stringently monitor our use of ALPR technology and maintain strict controls of the ALPR system. Access is limited to personnel who serve in an investigative role and have a legitimate law-enforcement need to use the technology.
Through continued oversight, accountability, and transparency, we will ensure ALPR technology is used responsibly and in a manner that protects public safety, individual privacy, and the trust of our community.