Carl Gunn, a 77-year-old retiree in St. Petersburg, Florida, has been blocking automated license plate reader cameras with a long pole and homemade sign as a peaceful protest against surveillance. His weekly, non-destructive demonstrations—reported after incidents of camera vandalism—aim to raise questions about how ALPR data is collected, stored and shared. Local reports say roughly 50 Flock Safety cameras operate in the city; police spoke with Gunn and did not arrest him, but the legal status of temporarily obstructing cameras remains unsettled.
77-Year-Old Florida Retiree Blocks ALPR Cameras With Pole-Mounted Sign in Peaceful Protest
Image Credit: Matt Van Swol / X.
Carl Gunn, a 77-year-old retiree in St. Petersburg, Florida, has drawn attention by standing beneath automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras and using a homemade sign on a long pole to temporarily block their view. He says the goal is to protest expanding surveillance without damaging equipment.
What Happened
Video and photos shared on X by Matt Van Swol show Gunn positioning himself under an ALPR camera and raising a sign high enough to obstruct its field of view while remaining on public property. His demonstrations typically take place on Saturdays and are intended to prevent the camera from capturing license plates only during the protest.
Why He Says He’s Protesting
Gunn says he began protesting after seeing instances of ALPR cameras being vandalized. Rather than damaging property, he opted for a non-destructive, highly visible way to highlight concerns about how license plate data is collected, stored, shared and used.
Local Context
Local reports indicate St. Petersburg deploys roughly 50 Flock Safety ALPR cameras around the city. Flock Safety is a prominent vendor, but other companies—including Rekor Systems, Axon, Motorola Solutions and Genetec—also supply plate-reading systems used by law enforcement agencies across North America.
Image Credit: Mbrickn - Own work, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia.
Police Response And Legal Uncertainty
Published accounts say St. Petersburg police officers spoke with Gunn during at least one demonstration and allowed him to continue; there have been no reported arrests related to these protests. However, it remains unclear whether temporarily obstructing a camera in this way is lawful under local or state law, and no court has issued a definitive ruling on the tactic. If similar protests spread, legal challenges could clarify the line between protected protest and unlawful interference.
Broader Debate
Supporters of ALPR systems say the technology helps identify stolen vehicles, locate suspects, assist criminal investigations and reconstruct vehicle movements, improving public safety and investigative efficiency. Privacy advocates warn that broad ALPR deployment can enable mass tracking of drivers who are not suspected of wrongdoing, raising questions about retention periods, access controls and data sharing between agencies.
Why It Matters: Gunn’s non-destructive protests spotlight the tension between public safety benefits and privacy risks posed by pervasive surveillance technology. The demonstrations are a reminder that debate over ALPRs is as much about policy and oversight as it is about hardware.
If you live in an area considering ALPR expansion—or if you care about privacy and surveillance policy—Gunn’s actions offer a concrete example of civil resistance that avoids vandalism while prompting public discussion.
Image Credit: Mbrickn - Own work, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia.
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