JM Audits Video Report

Volusia Sheriff Conducted 468,548 Flock Searches: How to Request the Records

JM Audits examines the rapid growth of automated license-plate readers, compares search totals across Volusia County agencies and explains how residents can request camera-location records.

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Mapping a growing camera network

The video reviews crowdsourced maps showing license-plate readers across Florida and throughout the country. JM Audits cautions that community maps may be incomplete and recommends requesting official location reports from each local agency.

What to ask for

Using records obtained from Edgewater, the report shows how a request can identify the number of active cameras, their locations and the directions they face. JM Audits says the records can help residents verify cameras that do not appear on public maps.

The reported number:
JM Audits says available data shows 468,548 Flock database searches by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office—far more than nearby agencies examined in the video.

Search totals across Volusia County

The video compares reported searches by New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Daytona Beach, Edgewater and other agencies. JM Audits argues that the number of searches deserves scrutiny because participating agencies may be able to query license-plate activity well beyond their own jurisdictions.

Public safety and privacy

Supporters promote plate readers as tools for finding stolen vehicles and wanted people. The report questions their effectiveness in several missing-person cases and highlights examples in which innocent drivers were allegedly tracked or detained. JM Audits encourages viewers to obtain local records and evaluate how their own agencies use the technology.

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Source note: This story was prepared from the video and YouTube’s automatically generated transcript, which may contain errors. Disputed claims and legal conclusions are attributed to the speakers or JM Audits commentary and have not been independently adjudicated.