Sheriff Defends ALPR Cameras Against Removal | Tampa News

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is sounding the alarm over the state’s impending ban on license plate reading cameras, calling it a dangerous step backward in the fight against crime. With 73 ALPRs in his department—23 now set to be removed from state roads—the sheriff argues these tools, in use for nearly two decades, have helped solve countless cases and slashed auto thefts by half. He cites a recent shooting where an ALPR caught the fleeing suspect’s motorcycle plate, leading to their arrest—a catch that wouldn’t have happened without the tech. While acknowledging valid public concerns about misuse, he insists his department has never abused the system, pointing to an ongoing investigation into a deputy homicide where no ALPR data was improperly accessed. Sheriff Gualtieri believes the benefits to public safety far outweigh the risks, warning that eliminating this vital tool because of isolated misconduct would be like fighting crime with outdated methods. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f4fd68d682989f48