Agenda #: 5.6
Meeting Date: November 21, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Daniel Fox, City Manager
TITLE: AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER USE (ALPR) AND
DEPLOYMENT POLICY
STRATEGIC
GOAL: Safe, Sustainable & Healthy Community
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Automated License Plate Reader Use Policy.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
At the February 28, 2023 meeting, the City Council Public Safety Committee requested that staff prepare a presentation related to the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) surveillance systems in Diamond Bar. The matter was subsequently presented to the committee at the March 28, 2023 meeting, at which time staff was directed to prepare the item for City Council discussion. At the April 18, 2023 Study Session, the City Council discussed the matter and directed staff to return with additional information for further discussion and direction. At the July 18, 2023 Study Session, the City Council directed staff to begin negotiations with ALPR services provider Flock Group, Inc. and bring a contract to an upcoming Regular Meeting for City Council consideration. Finally, at the September 19, 2023 Regular Meeting, the City Council approved a contract with Flock Safety to place ALPR cameras at ingress and egress points throughout the city.
Staff and Flock representatives have been working cooperatively to deploy the 50 cameras included in the contract.
ANALYSIS:
ALPRs are camera-based surveillance devices that capture vehicle license plate data.
This data can be used by law enforcement in a number of ways, including to monitor where a vehicle has been, identify travel patterns over time, and determine links between different vehicles. ALPR camera systems can supplement license plate data with automated collection of vehicle identifiers like make, model, color, and features like roof racks and bumper stickers and can also track pedestrians, animals, and other objects in view of the camera.
ALPR cameras are fixed-mounted approximately 15 feet above traffic lanes on existing traffic signal and/or light poles. The cameras are powered with solar-charged batteries and use LTE cell networks to communicate with servers maintained by the provider.
Data collected is fed through a state crime database. Local patrol deputies can receive real-time push notifications via mobile application when a vehicle on the database is flagged by a local ALPR camera. Deputies and authorized users can also create a “hot list” of specific vehicles of interest that may not be in the database and receive real-time notifications for those vehicles as well. Data is maintained on cloud servers hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The proposed system does not currently collect video, use facial recognition, or intentionally capture images of a vehicle’s driver.
To comply with California Civil Code 1798.90.5 et. seq., the City must approve the attached policy governing the use of the ALPR cameras, use, storage, and access to the data generated by the system, training of users, and location of cameras, among other provisions.
• Access to the system and data is limited to trained law enforcement personnel. • Data generated by the system is maintained for one year. • The City Attorney, despite previous assertions, has determined that data generated by the system is not subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act.
• Deployment of cameras is limited to arterial streets and deployment locations and equipment are reviewed by the Public Works Department to ensure the City’s design specifications are met.
• The Captain has reviewed the policy to ensure that it is consistent with LASD procedures.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the agreement as to form.
PREPARED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
Attachments:
1. 5.6.a City Council Policy 2023-01 - ALPR Use and Deployment Policy