1 6
2 7
Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 2.A
Meeting Date: September 16, 2026
From: Rick Sanchez, Police Chief
Title: Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Program – Public Safety, Privacy, Accountability, and Transparency
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file a presentation from the Cathedral City Police Department regarding the Department's Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) program, including its public- safety applications, privacy protections, access controls, auditing requirements, data- sharing practices, and accountability measures.
BACKGROUND:
The Cathedral City Police Department utilizes Automated License Plate Recognition technology as an investigative tool to assist officers and detectives in preventing and investigating crime, locating missing or endangered people, recovering stolen vehicles, and identifying vehicles associated with criminal investigations.
The City is granted the authority to use ALPR technology under state law, provided that the City maintains reasonable security procedures and practices, including operational, administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to prevent its misuse and that it implements a usage and privacy policy to ensure that the collection, use, maintenance, sharing and dissemination of ALPR information is consistent with respect for individuals’ privacy and civil liberties. As is more particularly identified in this staff report, Cathedral City’s use of ALPR technology is fully compliant with California law.
The Department has utilized ALPR technology since at least mid-2013. The Department's original ALPR system utilized Vigilant Solutions and was in operation prior to the deployment of the fixed-camera system currently used by the Department.
In 2021, the Department began deploying Flock Safety fixed ALPR cameras, initially with two cameras. Since that time, the system has been expanded to provide greater coverage throughout Cathedral City and enhance the Department's ability to investigate criminal activity and respond to public safety concerns. The deployment of Flock Safety cameras 1 6
2 7
represented an evolution of the Department’s existing ALPR program rather than the introduction of ALPR technology to Cathedral City.
Flock Safety ALPR technology is one of several investigative and public-safety tools utilized by the Department in carrying out its law enforcement responsibilities. Its use is integrated into the Department’s broader investigative practices and is subject to applicable laws, policies, procedures, and information-security requirements. The Department’s use of ALPR information is also consistent with applicable requirements governing access to and use of law-enforcement information systems, including the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS), as well as other systems and resources utilized by the Department in the course of its official duties.
ALPR technology captures a vehicle detection when a vehicle passes a fixed camera location. A detection may include an image of a vehicle and its visible license plate, along with the date, time, camera location, and certain vehicle characteristics, such as make, model, and color. These detections can subsequently be searched by authorized Department personnel for legitimate law enforcement purposes in accordance with Department policy and applicable law, including California laws governing the collection, security, access, use, and sharing of ALPR information. The creation of a vehicle detection is automated; access to and searching of stored detection information is limited to authorized personnel and is subject to Department policies, applicable law, and established law enforcement and information-security requirements. ALPR information is one of several investigative tools available to the Department and is not used as a substitute for officer or detective investigation, corroboration, or other law enforcement resources.
ALPR technology is designed to identify vehicles, not people. The system does not use facial recognition, record conversations or audio, identify drivers or passengers, access cellular telephone information, track cellular telephones, or use GPS technology to continuously track a vehicle's location. The cameras capture vehicles as they pass specific camera locations; they do not provide a continuous live record of a vehicle's movements.
ALPR information serves as an investigative lead and does not, itself, establish that a person has committed a crime.
The Department recognizes that the use of technology by law enforcement requires an appropriate balance between public safety, individual privacy, transparency, accountability, and community trust. Accordingly, the Department's ALPR program incorporates policies governing authorized use, training requirements, access controls, supervisory oversight, auditing, data-retention requirements, and restrictions on how ALPR information may be accessed and shared.
These safeguards are intended to ensure that ALPR technology is used for legitimate public safety purposes and in a manner consistent with Department policy, California law, and the expectations of the community the Department serves.
DISCUSSION:
1 6
2 7
Public Safety Purpose
ALPR provides officers and detectives with timely vehicle information that can assist with investigations when limited information is available.
Common law-enforcement applications include:
Locating and recovering stolen vehicles;
assisting in locating missing or endangered people;
identifying vehicles associated with criminal investigations; developing investigative leads based upon vehicle descriptions; assisting officers responding to alerts involving vehicles associated with legitimate law-enforcement purposes; and
supporting regional criminal investigations when consistent with department policy and California law.
California Civil Code §1798.90.55 prohibits a public agency from sharing ALPR information except with another qualifying public agency and as otherwise permitted by law. California DOJ interprets "public agency" as excluding federal and out-of-state law-enforcement agencies.
The California Values Act (SB 54) restricts state and local law-enforcement resources from being used for federal immigration enforcement, subject to limited statutory exceptions.
Alerts may be generated when a detected license plate matches information associated with a legitimate law-enforcement database or other authorized law-enforcement purpose; any alert must be independently verified by an officer before enforcement action is taken.
ALPR does not replace traditional investigative techniques. A detection or alert is an investigative lead that must be independently verified by an officer or investigator. Officers remain responsible for confirming vehicle and license-plate information, evaluating the circumstances, developing additional evidence when necessary, and ensuring that any enforcement action is supported by appropriate legal authority.
An ALPR detection or alert does not independently provide legal authority to stop, detain, search, or arrest an individual. Officers must independently evaluate the circumstances and establish the legal authority necessary for any enforcement action.
Information Collected
The Department's ALPR system records limited vehicle-related information when a vehicle passes a fixed camera location. Information collected may include:
vehicle image
1 6
2 7
visible license plate
date and time
camera location
vehicle characteristics
The system does not create a file containing the identity of the driver or passengers, conversations, cell-phone information, personal communications, or facial-recognition information.
ALPR cameras record individual vehicle detections at fixed locations. They do not provide continuous GPS tracking of a vehicle.
ALPR detection data is retained for 30 days and is automatically deleted thereafter, providing investigators with a limited period in which to review the information for legitimate law- enforcement purposes. While the City determines the retention period, state law requires the City to establish the length of time ALPR information will be retained as part of the City’s usage and privacy policy.
Access Controls and Training
Access to the Department's ALPR system is limited to trained and authorized personnel with a legitimate law-enforcement purpose.
Before receiving access, Department personnel are required to complete Department- approved ALPR training, complete Flock Academy certification (online training), review Department policy and the Chief of Police's expectations regarding appropriate use and sign a user acknowledgment.
Authorized personnel are issued individual login credentials. Shared or anonymous user accounts are not permitted.
The Department - not the technology vendor - determines who is authorized to access the system and is responsible for oversight and accountability regarding Department users.
Search Requirements
Authorized users may access and search ALPR information only for a legitimate law- enforcement purpose consistent with Department policy and applicable law. Searches must be associated with an authorized user and documented law-enforcement purpose. The Department does not permit ALPR searches for personal, political, discriminatory, immigration-enforcement, or other unauthorized purposes.
Auditing and Accountability
Every ALPR search is attributable to an individual authorized user and creates an audit record. Search activity records information including the user, date, time, purpose, and search history. Search activity is subject to supervisory review and monthly auditing. 1 6
2 7
The Department's oversight extends beyond the internal use of ALPR information. The Department also conducts periodic reviews of agencies with which Cathedral City shares ALPR information to ensure those agencies remain compliant with California law and applicable ALPR requirements. If the Department identifies an agency that does not comply with California law or no longer meets the Department's data-sharing requirements, access to Cathedral City's ALPR information is immediately removed. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against El Cajon Police Department for allegedly violating state law (Senate Bill 34) by sharing sensitive ALPR location data with out-of-state law enforcement agencies. Once our agency was made aware of this, El Cajon PD was immediately removed from our list of agencies with whom we shared information with.
Additional system safeguards include mechanisms designed to identify abnormal search activity, flag suspicious activity for administrator review, proactively restrict access when suspicious activity is detected, and require case numbers for law-enforcement searches.
Misuse of ALPR technology is prohibited. Suspected misuse may result in supervisory review, administrative investigation, revocation of system access, disciplinary action up to and including termination, and potential criminal consequences when applicable.
Data Sharing and Immigration Enforcement
The Cathedral City Police Department maintains local control over access to its ALPR information.
The Department does not share ALPR data with federal agencies, including federal immigration authorities; out-of-state law-enforcement agencies; or agencies seeking information for immigration-enforcement purposes. The ALPR program is not used as an immigration-enforcement tool.
The Department only shares ALPR information with approved California law- enforcement/public agencies that have a legitimate law-enforcement purpose, comply with California law and applicable ALPR requirements, are specifically approved by the Cathedral City Police Department, and reciprocally share ALPR information with the Department.
Data-sharing access is a privilege granted by the Department and may be revoked when an agency no longer meets these requirements.
Investigative Effectiveness
ALPR has assisted Cathedral City investigators in both serious criminal investigations and routine public-safety operations.
In a February 2026 Cathedral City homicide investigation, detectives developed a description of a suspect vehicle while the identities of those responsible remained unknown.
An ALPR search identified a matching vehicle and helped investigators establish its direction of travel toward the San Diego area. Through additional investigation and coordination with partner agencies, three suspects were identified, arrested, and charged with murder.
In a separate fatal hit-and-run investigation, officers initially had no witnesses identifying the 1 6
2 7
fleeing vehicle. Physical evidence established the vehicle's direction of travel. Investigators used ALPR information to narrow the investigation to six potential vehicles. Registration information, travel direction, and additional investigative work ultimately identified the suspect vehicle, which was located with damage consistent with the collision. The suspect was arrested and is awaiting trial.
ALPR also assisted detectives investigating the 2025 murder of a 13-year-old victim.
Investigators initially had only a general description of the suspect vehicle. ALPR information helped identify a vehicle consistent with witness descriptions and allowed investigators to analyze travel patterns and narrow potential suspects. Combined with witness interviews, physical evidence, and additional detective follow-up, two suspects were identified, arrested, and charged with murder.
These cases demonstrate the intended role of ALPR: the technology generates investigative leads, while officers and detectives develop and corroborate the evidence necessary to identify suspects and take lawful enforcement action.
Camera Deployment
The Cathedral City Police Department currently operates 34 ALPR cameras.
Camera locations are selected based upon documented public-safety and investigative considerations, including major ingress and egress routes, historical crime trends, roadway and traffic patterns, investigative coverage gaps, officer safety, and community safety.
For operational security reasons, the Department does not publicly disclose the specific locations of individual ALPR cameras.
The Department's objective is not to maximize the number of cameras deployed throughout the city. Camera placement is intended to provide effective investigative coverage based upon identified public-safety needs.
Transparency
Transparency is an important component of maintaining public confidence in law- enforcement technology.
The Department maintains a public Flock Transparency Portal through which residents can review information regarding the ALPR program. Department policies and program information are also made available for public review.
https://transparency.flocksafety.com/cathedral-city-ca-pd The Department will continue evaluating the program to ensure that its use remains consistent with California law, Department policy, established privacy protections, and the Department's commitment to responsible and accountable policing.
Privacy and Civil-Liberties Considerations
The Police Department recognizes that the ability of technology to assist law enforcement 1 6
2 7
does not, by itself, determine whether or how that technology should be used.
The appropriate question is whether technology can be used effectively, lawfully, transparently, and responsibly while protecting constitutional rights and individual privacy.
The Department's ALPR program is therefore built around several principles:
Necessary: Use must be connected to a legitimate public safety or law-enforcement purpose.
Limited: Access, retention, and sharing are restricted. Documented: Searches are associated with an authorized user and documented purpose.
Supervised: Search activity is reviewable and subject to audit. Accountable: Suspected misuse is investigated and violations may result in discipline or other consequences.
Transparent: Policies and information regarding the program are available for public review.
Technology alone does not protect privacy. Responsible use requires appropriate policies, training, supervision, auditing, transparency, and accountability.
Regional Context
We are one of many agencies in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County using this technology (Indio PD, Palm Springs PD, Desert Hot Springs PD, City of La Quinta, Palm Desert, etc.). The Department currently operates 34 cameras. The Department's deployment decisions are based upon strategic investigative and public safety needs rather than an objective of maximizing camera count.
Regional information regarding ALPR deployment is included in the accompanying presentation to provide Council with additional context.
Conclusion
Automated License Plate Recognition is an investigative tool available to the Cathedral City Police Department. It can assist officers and detectives in locating stolen vehicles and missing persons, developing investigative leads, and solving serious crimes, but it does not replace traditional police work, independent investigation, officer judgment, or constitutional requirements.
The Department believes public safety and individual privacy are not competing responsibilities. Both must be protected.
The Cathedral City Police Department will continue to use ALPR technology in a manner that is limited, documented, supervised, accountable, and transparent. The Department's commitment is to responsibly utilize technology that helps protect the community while 1 6
2 7
safeguarding the constitutional rights, privacy, and trust of every person we serve.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this informational presentation. The Cathedral City Police Department currently spends approximately $80,000 annually on the licensing for the city’s ALPR cameras.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal E- Safety – Continue to explore and utilize technology to promote public safety.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Cathedral City Police Department ALPR Policy
2. Chief’s Expectations
3. Flock Safety ALPR User Admonition and Acknowledgment