Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR)

Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR)

Frequently Asked Questions

What's Detected

Vehicles, License Plates

What's Not Detected

Facial recognition, People, Gender, Race

Acceptable Use Policy

Data is used for law enforcement purposes only. Data is owned by Elk Grove PD and is never sold to 3rd parties.

Prohibited Uses

Immigration enforcement, traffic enforcement, harassment or intimidation, usage based solely on a protected class (i.e. race, sex, religion), Personal use.

Access Policy

All system access requires a valid case number and is stored indefinitely. This data is regularly audited every 90 davs.

Hotlist Policy

Hotlist hits are required to be human verified prior to action.

Data retention

30 days

Number of owned cameras

50

External agencies who have access

Oakley CA PD
Dixon CA PD
Vallejo CA PD
Walnut Creek CA PD
Suisun City PD - CA
San Mateo CA PD
Ontario CA PD
Benicia CA PD
Vacaville CA PD
Sacramento SO - CA
Livermore CA PD
Rio Vista CA PD
Citrus Heights PD- CA
Tracy CA PD
Novato CA PD
Napa County CA SO
Fairfield CA PD
Solano County CA SO
West Sacramento CA PD
Galt CA PD
Woodland CA PD
Yolo County CA SO
Manteca CA PD
Hayward CA PD
Sacramento PD - CA
Lathrop CA PD
Concord CA PD
Auburn CA PD
Solano County DA CA
Gilroy CA PD
San Joaquin County CA SO
Danville CA PD
Rocklin CA PD
Riverside County CA District Attorney
Anderson CA PD

Agencies who share their data with EGPD

Danville CA PD
Roseville CA PD
San Mateo CA PD
Hercules CA PD
Piedmont CA PD
Vacaville CA PD
Livermore CA PD
NCRIC
CheZimme Estates HOA
Rio Vista CA PD
San Ramon CA PD
Fairfield CA PD
Benicia CA PD
Dixon CA PD
Millbrae CA
PD, Eskanos Family LP (CA)
Elk Grove Auto Mall (CA)
Anderson City CA PD
San Mateo County CA SO
Alhambra CA PD
Stones Gambling Hall (CA)
Ventura CA PD
South Bend IN PD
Oakley CA PD
Woodland CA PD
Galt CA PD
Novato CA PD
Orange Beach AL PD
Suisun City PD- CA
Ontario CA PD
Seal Beach CA PD
Pleasanton CA PD
Napa County CA SO (Flex)
San Joaquin County CA SO
Auburn CA PD
Vallejo CA PD (Flex)
Vallejo CA PD
Grass Valley PD -CA
San Bruno CA PD
Orange County FL SO
Yuba County CA SO
Hayward CA PD
Tracy CA PD

Automatic License Plate Reader Policy

462.1 Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance for the capture, storage and use of digital data obtained through the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology.

462.2 Administration

The ALPR technology, also known as License Plate Recognition (LPR), allows for the automated detection of license plates. It is used by the Elk Grove Police Department to convert data associated with vehicle license plates for official law enforcement purposes, including identifying stolen or wanted vehicles, stolen license plates and missing persons. It may also be used to gather information related to active warrants, homeland security, electronic surveillance, suspect interdiction and stolen property recovery.

All installation and maintenance of ALPR equipment, as well as ALPR data retention and access, shall be managed by the Chief of Police or authorized designee. The Chief of Police or authorized designee will assign members under his/her command to administer the day-to-day operation of the ALPR equipment and data.

462.2.1 ALPR Administration

The Chief of Police or authorized designee shall be responsible for developing guidelines and procedures to comply with the requirements of Civil Code § 1798.90.5 et seq. This includes, but is not limited to (Civil Code § 1798.90.51; Civil Code § 1798.90.53):

  1. A description of the job title or other designation of the members and independent contractors who are authorized to use or access the ALPR system or to collect ALPR information.
  2. Training requirements for authorized users.
  3. A description of how the ALPR system will be monitored to ensure the security of the information and compliance with applicable privacy laws.
  4. (d) Procedures for system operators to maintain records of access in compliance with Civil Code § 1798.90.52.
  5. (e) The title and name of the current designee in overseeing the ALPR operation.
  6. (f) Working with the Custodian of Records on the retention and destruction of ALPR data.
  7. (g) Ensuring this policy and related procedures are conspicuously posted on the department's website.

462.3 Operations

Use of an ALPR is restricted to the purposes outlined below. Department members shall not use, or allow others to use the equipment or database records for any unauthorized purpose (Civil Code § 1798.90.51; Civil Code § 1798.90.53).

  1. An ALPR shall only be used for official law enforcement business.
  2. An ALPR may be used in conjunction with any routine patrol operation or criminal investigation. Reasonable suspicion or probable cause is not required before using an ALPR.
  3. While an ALPR may be used to canvass license plates around any crime scene, particular consideration should be given to using ALPR-equipped cars to canvass areas around homicides, shootings and other major incidents. Partial license plates reported during major crimes should be entered into the ALPR system in an attempt to identify suspect vehicles.
  4. (d) No member of this department shall operate ALPR equipment or access ALPR data without first completing department-approved training.
  5. (e) No ALPR operator may access department, state or federal data unless otherwise authorized to do so.
  6. (f) If practicable, the officer should verify an ALPR response through the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) before taking enforcement action that is based solely on an ALPR alert.

462.4 Data Collection and Retention

The Chief of Police or authorized designee is responsible for ensuring systems and processes are in place for the proper collection and retention of ALPR data. Data will be transferred from vehicles to the designated storage in accordance with department procedures. All ALPR data downloaded to the server should be stored for a minimum of one year (Government Code § 34090.6) and in accordance with the established records retention schedule. Thereafter, ALPR data should be purged unless it has become, or it is reasonable to believe it will become, evidence in a criminal or civil action or is subject to a discovery request or other lawful action to produce records. In those circumstances the applicable data should be downloaded from the server onto portable media and booked into evidence.

462.5 Accountability

All data will be closely safeguarded and protected by both procedural and technological means. The Elk Grove Police Department will observe the following safeguards regarding access to and use of stored data (Civil Code § 1798.90.51; Civil Code § 1798.90.53):

  1. All ALPR data downloaded to the mobile workstation and in storage shall be accessible only through a login/password-protected system capable of documenting all access of information by name, date and time (Civil Code § 1798.90.52).
  2. Members approved to access ALPR data under these guidelines are permitted to access the data for legitimate law enforcement purposes only, such as when the data relate to a specific criminal investigation or department-related civil or administrative action.
  3. ALPR system audits should be conducted on a regular basis.

For security or data breaches, see the Records Release and Maintenance Policy.

462.6 Policy

The policy of the Elk Grove Police Department is to utilize ALPR technology to capture and store digital license plate data and images while recognizing the established privacy rights of the public. All data and images gathered by the ALPR are for the official use of this department. Because such data may contain confidential information, it is not open to public review.

462.7 Releasing ALPR Data

The ALPR data may be shared only with other law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies for official law enforcement purposes or as otherwise permitted by law, using the following procedures:

  1. The agency makes a written request for the ALPR data that includes:
    1. The name of the agency.
    2. The name of the person requesting.
    3. The intended purpose of obtaining the information.
  2. The request is reviewed by the Chief of Police or authorized designee and approved before the request is fulfilled.
  3. The approved request is retained on file.

Requests for ALPR data by non-law enforcement or non-prosecutorial agencies will be processed as provided in the Records Maintenance and Release Policy (Civil Code § 1798.90.55).

462.8 Training

The Training Sergeant should ensure that members receive department-approved training for those authorized to use or access the ALPR system (Civil Code § 1798.90.51; Civil Code §1798.90.53).