City of Chula Vista
Home MenuAutomated License Plate Readers (ALPR)
We aim to leverage the use of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology for the good of the public, using it as a reactive measure to solve crimes and keep the community safe.
In 2021, the City of Chula Vista embarked on an evaluation of the use of ALPR systems, resulting in CVPD’s current analysis of its use and commitment to transparency with public reports to the City Council. We are dedicated to developing policies and guidelines that balance community safety with privacy rights and respect community concerns.
CVPD ALPR PROGRAM
CVPD has operated an ALPR program since 2007, when the first ALPR system was purchased with City Council approval. Previously, four (4) Vigilant LEARN ALPR cameras were mounted on patrol vehicles to capture vehicle license plates. Currently, no CVPD vehicle used in the field has a Vigilant LEARN ALPR camera mounted on it. CVPD still maintains access to the Vigilant LEARN ALPR database, but no information is provided by CVPD to the Vigilant LEARN ALPR database.
Flock Safety:
In October 2023, City Council unanimously approved 150 of the stationary cameras. These cameras are installed onto streetlights, traffic signal poles, and standalone poles erected by Flock Safety. For more information about the current number of operational cameras and to learn more about our Flock Safety system, visit our Transparency Portal.
WHAT IS ALPR DATA?
ALPR data consists of images of license plates from the ALPR cameras and the date, time, and location of the image. CVPD images remain in the CVPD ALPR database for 30 days and are automatically deleted 30 days from the photo date. Once deleted, the photos cannot be retrieved for any purpose. It should be noted that ALPR data does not contain any other information on the vehicle. For example, Flock cameras do not collect personal information, such as the registered owner’s name or address for any vehicle, nor any information about who was inside any vehicle, nor does the ALPR database provide a link to any other confidential law enforcement database. It is a stand-alone system. California state law prohibits sharing law enforcement ALPR data to any other law enforcement agency outside the state of California and any federal law enforcement agency.
WHO CAN ACCESS ALPR DATA?
ALPR data is considered confidential by California state law and is restricted to use by California law enforcement for official purposes pertaining to criminal investigations. CVPD employees who have been trained on ALPR systems and agreed to CVPD's mandated policies may access ALPR data for official law enforcement purposes. Each user has a unique and secure login credential, and any search of the data must include the reason for searching (case number or call for service number).
Like other confidential law enforcement databases, there is department policy and state law that governs use and access, and consequences for improper use.
ALPR data may be searched in the following manner:
- Search for a specific license plate or partial license plate number
- Specific area and time frame for either a license plate or partial license plate, or the make, model, or color of a vehicle, or a combination of each.
Please note: Only matching results are displayed for any search.
ALPR DATA SHARING
CVPD ALPR data is stored in a CVPD-specific database maintained by the ALPR vendors (Vigilant LEARN, Motorola, and Flock Safety) and managed by CVPD personnel. CVPD’s ALPR data is not visible or available to the vendor. The vendor cannot log onto CVPD’s database and access or view any data. Data sharing refers to the ability of an agency that is conducting a specific search of ALPR data to see another agency’s matching ALPR data. CVPD allows other CA law enforcement agencies to view CVPD ALPR matching results. This is since all California law enforcement agencies must adhere to strict ALPR laws and must have their own enacted policies for the usage of ALPR data. CVPD does not share ALPR data with any agencies outside of California, any federal agencies, or fusion centers. Additionally, CVPD ALPR data is not shared in bulk, nor is it sold or provided to any other entity except as described above. Click here to view the current list of all the California law enforcement agencies that we share ALPR data with, and who we receive data from.
HOW CVPD TURNS LICENSE PLATE DATA INTO ACTIONABLE LEADS
The two primary functions of this technology are:
- To automatically compare license plate numbers that have been entered into separate, existing law enforcement databases with the license plates photographed by CVPD's ALPR system. When a match is found, the system sends an alert to the officer. That officer must then verify that the alert is still valid and locate the vehicle in question before determining what action to take.
- To provide a database for officers investigating crimes. This is a very useful tool that investigators use to identify vehicles associated with crimes, stolen vehicles, vehicles associated with wanted persons, and vehicles associated with missing persons.
The ALPR system is NOT used for:
- Not associated with any of our UAS (drones)
- Not capable of real-time (or near real-time) tracking of a person or vehicle
- Not used for immigration purposes
- We do not share data with ICE nor CBP
- We do not collect any immigration-related information – the data relates to license plates only
- Not shared with non-law enforcement agencies or law enforcement agencies outside of California
- Not able to provide any personal identification information (i.e., DMV records) in association with the vehicle
FAQ’s
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Click here to view the presentations that CVPD has introduced at past City Council meetings. These events have served as an opportunity for residents to provide input regarding how the program is implemented.
Click here to learn about Vigilant LEARN, CVPD’s ALPR solution for mobile ALPR cameras. Click here to learn about Flock Safety, CVPD’s ALPR solution for stationary ALPR cameras.