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Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR)

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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 city-owned streetlights, traffic signal poles, and standalone poles erected by Flock Safety. None of the cameras are placed on private property, nor do any cameras face private property. All cameras are positioned to capture license plates of vehicles traveling on public-maintained roadways within the City of Chula Vista. 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.

Regarding CVPD’s Flock ALPR Program, those images of rear license plates from vehicles remain in the 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 under California Senate Bill 34. In addition, no CVPD-owned ALPR data is utilized for any immigration purposes pursuant to California Senate Bill 54, also known as the California Values Act. 

 

WHO CAN ACCESS ALPR DATA?

ALPR data is considered confidential by California state law and is restricted to use by California law enforcement only 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). CVPD conducts multiple audits on its systems to ensure strict adherence to California law and CVPD policy.

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:

  1. Search for a specific license plate or partial license plate number
  2. 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 search, 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 does share ALPR data with other California law enforcement agencies so long as those agencies are in compliance with Senate Bill 34. CVPD also reserves the right to discontinue sharing and allowing a specific California law enforcement agency from access to our ALPR data if that agency is found to be violating state law in terms of ALPR data sharing (SB-34) or found to have violated SB-54, the California Values Act regarding the utilization of ALPR data for immigration enforcement. This is because all California law enforcement agencies must adhere to strict California law, ALPR laws, and must have their own enacted policies for the usage of ALPR data. 

CVPD does not share any ALPR data with private companies (including those companies in California) that may have a contract with Flock Safety. CVPD does not allow those private companies to share their ALPR data with the CVPD. 

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. Please note that out of state law enforcement agencies are allowed to share their ALPR data with any California law enforcement agencies.

 

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, CBP, HSI, etc. 
    • 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

How many ALPR cameras do we have?
What is detected by ALPR cameras?
Do we collect immigration information?
Do we use facial recognition?
Who do we share our ALPR data with?
Do we sell our information?
What are the prohibited uses of ALPR systems?
Can ALPR vendors access CVPD data?
Who responds to legal requests for data in the ALPR database?

 

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.