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FL Public Records Law

Florida Public Records Act

Fla. Stat. Chapter 119

Initial response
0 business days
Penalties
Fee shifting
Attorney fees
Mandatory
ALPR exemption
Yes
Burden of proof
On the agency

Response timeline

Florida has no statutory response deadline. Records must be provided "promptly" and agencies must respond "in good faith." Unreasonable delay may constitute a constructive denial. The Florida Constitution (Art. I, § 24) independently guarantees the right of access. Inspection must be permitted during regular business hours.

Appeal process

Administrative appeal required?
No, can go directly to court
Appeals body
Direct court action (Circuit Court)

Enforcement

Court action
Civil action to compel compliance in Circuit Court
Filing fee
~$400
Filing deadline
No specific deadline
Attorney fee trigger
Court shall award reasonable attorney fees and enforcement costs to a requester who prevails, provided the requester gave 5 business days written notice before filing suit. Fla. Stat. § 119.12. Fees may be awarded against requester if the court finds the request was made with "improper purpose."

Fees

Copy fee
$0.15/page
Search fees
Allowed
Electronic delivery
Not required

Standard copy fee is 15 cents per single-sided page, 20 cents per double-sided page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. Agencies may charge a "special service charge" for extensive clerical or IT work required to fulfill a request.

ALPR-specific provisions

Warning

This state has an ALPR-specific exemption: Fla. Stat. § 316.0777. Florida law exempts ALPR images and data containing personal identifying information from public records disclosure. Criminal justice agencies may access the data for official duties, and individuals may access data related to their own license plate unless it constitutes active criminal intelligence. Florida has nearly 9,500 documented ALPR cameras statewide.

Exemptions to watch for

These are the exemptions agencies most commonly invoke to deny surveillance records requests. Knowing them helps you anticipate and counter a denial.

  • ALPR images and personal identifying information (§ 316.0777)
  • Active criminal investigation records
  • Confidential informant identity
  • Security system plans
  • Trade secrets
  • Social security numbers and financial account numbers
  • Medical records

Agencies in Florida

Miami-Dade Police Department
Miami-Dade County active
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
Jacksonville active

Generate a request letter

For Miami-Dade Police Department

When to use

You want to see what the cameras actually recorded — plates, vehicle descriptions, images, timestamps.

Generated letter
To: Records Access Officer From: [Your Name] Date: 2026-08-30 Subject: Public Records Act Request — ALPR/Flock Safety Detection Data Dear Records Access Officer: Pursuant to Florida's Public Records Act (Fla. Stat. Chapter 119) and Art. I, \xA7 24 of the Florida Constitution, I request access to and copies of the following records: All automated license plate reader (ALPR) detection logs, images, and associated metadata captured by any ALPR device (including but not limited to Flock Safety cameras) operated by or on behalf of Miami-Dade Police Department during the following time period: Date: [Date] Time: [Start Time] to [End Time] This includes but is not limited to: license plate numbers, vehicle make/model/color, vehicle images, detection timestamps, camera identification numbers, and any alerts generated. I request that records be provided in electronic format where available. If fulfilling this request will cost more than $25, please provide an estimate before proceeding. I expect a prompt response as required by law. Florida's constitutional right of access requires that public records be made available without unreasonable delay. If you deny any portion of this request, please cite the specific statutory exemption relied upon. Thank you for your assistance. [Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Email]