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License-plate readers · Bay County

Bay County

Use suspended · 4 agencies documented

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Bay County Sheriff's Office

Status
Use suspended
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
68
As of Jan. 2026; Bay County total was 160, with the other 92 run by Panama City Beach, Panama City, Lynn Haven and Parker police
  1. Jan. 6, 2026 WJHG reported the sheriff's office managed 68 of 160 Flock cameras in Bay County. (WJHG, Jan. 6, 2026)
  2. Sept. 1, 2026 Sheriff Tommy Ford announced on Facebook he would stop using the cameras until the Florida Legislature sets statewide rules, and did not rule out restoring them: "I believe we can protect individual liberty while giving law enforcement the tools necessary to protect our communities." (WFSU Public Media, Sept. 1, 2026; WTVY, Sept. 1, 2026)

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Lynn Haven Police Department

Status
Use suspended
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
5
Five Flock cameras along major roads including State Roads 77, 390 and 389 (Dec. 2025). WMBB reported the first camera went up in 2020 and three more in 2021 for "a total of five" (as reported). No count given in the Sept. 2, 2026 suspension report.
Contract
Flock Safety: $62,500 five-year total · from Sept. 2023 (WMBB (mypanhandle.com), Dec. 10, 2025)
  1. Sept. 2023 A five-year, $62,500 Flock service agreement was signed by the then-police chief; city staff later found it had not gone before the commission as required. (WMBB (mypanhandle.com), Dec. 10, 2025)
  2. Dec. 9, 2025 City commissioners voted 4-1 to retroactively ratify the agreement; Commissioner Judy Tinder voted no. Mayor Jesse Nelson said no new cameras would be added. Costs are budgeted through 2026. (WMBB (mypanhandle.com), Dec. 10, 2025; WJHG, Dec. 10, 2025)
  3. Sept. 2, 2026 The City of Lynn Haven announced it suspended use of automated license plate readers to align with local partner agencies and state actions; "all Lynn Haven Police user accounts for the system have been disabled." The city said it would "monitor state guidance on license plate reader technology." No statement on the contract or physical removal. (WJHG, Sept. 2, 2026; WJHG, Sept. 1, 2026)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Status reflects WJHG, Sept. 2, 2026. Contract status (five-year agreement signed Sept. 2023) and camera removal not reported; records request needed. Meeting date of the ratification vote is from Dec. 10, 2025 reports describing a vote on "Tuesday."

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Panama City Beach Police Department

Status
Use suspended
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
39
39 cameras (since 2020) per WJHG, June 2026; the city's Sept. 1, 2026 statement gives no count and says some cameras may remain physically in place for a time.
  1. June 24, 2026 WJHG reported Panama City Beach had 39 Flock cameras, in use since 2020. (WJHG, June 24, 2026)
  2. Sept. 1, 2026 The city announced the police department was suspending use of the Flock system "effective immediately" until there is "clear and consistent statewide guidance," and would work with Flock to remove cameras from the city's jurisdiction "as soon as practical." The department's access to and use of the system ended that day. (City of Panama City Beach, Sept. 1, 2026)

From agency records.

Panama City Police Department

Status
Ended or removed
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
Count not documented
No Panama City count found; four department members had access to the cameras
  1. Sept. 1, 2026 The Panama City CRA board voted 5-0 to remove funds for Flock camera equipment rental from the 2027 budget (amount not reported). (WJHG, Sept. 1, 2026)
  2. Sept. 8, 2026 City commissioners voted to comply with the state order and to terminate the city's contract with the camera company (vote tally not reported). Disabled cameras were to be covered with bags. (WJHG, Sept. 8, 2026)

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Statewide

  1. Aug. 31, 2026 The Florida Department of Transportation revoked permits and ordered all automated license-plate readers off state roads within 30 days. Gov. Ron DeSantis: "I don't want to have this become a surveillance state." (Axios Tampa Bay, Sept. 1, 2026; WUSF, Sept. 2, 2026)
  2. Sept. 30, 2026 The 30-day deadline for removing license-plate readers from state roads passed. (Florida Phoenix, Sept. 30, 2026)