Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 6, 2026
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: JON RADUS, CHIEF OF POLICE
PREPARED BY: LAUREN pARKHOUSE, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST SUBJECT: FLOCK AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM
SUMMARY
The Fullerton Police Department (FPD) utilizes 19 Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras as an investigative and public-safety tool. The system provides FPD personnel with the ability to identify vehicles associated with reported criminal activity, stolen vehicles, missing persons, and other authorized law-enforcement investigations.
PROPOSED MOTION
Provide direction to staff regarding the existing Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
None.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Public Safety
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
Since 2021, the City has invested approximately $236,000 in Flock cameras, software, maintenance, and repairs. The current program of 19 ALPR cameras and services is supported by three contractual instruments entered into at different times as the program expanded. The current combined annual recurring cost is $51,000 for the program.
Funding for the current program is included in the Police Department’s existing operating budget within the General Fund (Fund 10). Authorization to continue the ALPR program does not, by itself, appropriate additional funds or approve a new contract. Future expenditures remain subject to available appropriations and the City’s applicable budget and purchasing requirements. If City Council directs that the program be discontinued, Staff would take the necessary administrative steps to discontinue service and address the existing agreements in accordance with their respective terms.
DISCUSSION
ALPR technology is designed to capture images of vehicles and license plates and convert information from those images into searchable data. The information captured only pertains to the license plate number, and vehicle attributes such as make, model, color, and any distinguishing characteristics. The cameras do not capture video, audio, facial recognition or other physical attributes of the occupant(s), names, DOBs, SSNs or DMV identity information.
ALPRs provide real-time hotlist alerts to officers concerning vehicles associated with criminal activity, such as stolen vehicles and missing persons alerts. Information associated with the detection must still be evaluated and independently verified before an officer takes any enforcement action.
ALPR technology provides law-enforcement personnel with an additional investigative resource that can be used when a vehicle is associated with a reported crime or other authorized investigation. The data allows investigators to conduct retroactive searches to assist in solving a case. For example, following a burglary, robbery, vehicle theft, hit-and-run collision, or other crime involving a suspect vehicle, investigators may have limited information regarding the vehicle's subsequent movements. A retrospective ALPR search may identify a vehicle matching known characteristics and provide an investigative lead regarding where the vehicle was observed during the applicable retention period. These capabilities can reduce the amount of time investigators must spend manually reviewing available information and can provide investigative leads that can be combined with witness statements, physical evidence, police reports, and other investigative resources. It is pertinent to note that ALPR data may provide an investigative lead concerning a vehicle, but an ALPR detection does not independently establish that the driver or occupant of a vehicle committed a crime.
The Fullerton Police Department has utilized automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology as an investigative resource for 19 years. The Police Department initiated an ALPR program in 2007 utilizing Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant funds to purchase ALPR cameras from Vigilant Solutions. This was approved by City Council on November 20, 2007.
In 2021, Fullerton PD changed ALPR vendors to Flock and installed five cameras. Ten additional cameras were added in 2022 as part of the Council approved ARPA spending plan CCTV project. In July 2023, the City entered into a five-year agreement with Flock Safety for the 15-camera system. The agreement provides the Flock Safety platform, software and support services for 14 fixed Falcon ALPR cameras and one Falcon Flex camera, together with FlockOS functionality used for vehicle searches, alerts, analytics, and authorized data sharing. In November 2025, the City executed an additional service order for two fixed Flock ALPR cameras using grant funds. The order incorporates the terms of the existing Flock agreement and includes software services and one-time implementation services associated with installation of the cameras.
In March 2026, the City executed an additional service order for two Flock Flex ALPR cameras. The Flex cameras are portable and provide the Department greater flexibility for temporary or targeted deployment. This order also incorporates the terms of the existing Flock agreement. Together, the three agreements support the City’s current inventory of 19 Flock ALPR cameras: 16 fixed cameras and three Flex cameras. This total reflects cameras operated by the City and does not include ALPR systems independently operated within Fullerton by other public agencies or private entities.
REGULATION
California law specifically regulates ALPR information. Senate Bill 34 established requirements concerning the collection, use, storage, access, sharing, and retention of ALPR information, and requires law-enforcement agencies to maintain a publicly available ALPR usage and privacy policy. The California Attorney General has subsequently issued additional guidance concerning ALPR data management and compliance.
The Attorney General's guidance specifically recommends that California law-enforcement agencies maintain reasonable security procedures, maintain a publicly available ALPR usage and privacy policy, and maintain records concerning access to ALPR information.
The Fullerton Police Department has made its ALPR policy publicly available through the department's website as part of its commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible use.
Fullerton PD Policy 428: Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) 428.2 Policy: The policy of the Fullerton 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 for the official use of this department. Because such data may contain confidential information, it is not open to public review.
Key Points of the Policy:
ALPR shall only be used for official law enforcement purposes, in conjunction with any routine patrol operation or criminal investigation.
ALPR data may be shared only with a California state or local agency as otherwise permitted by law (Civil Code 1798.90.55); out-of-state or federal agencies are prohibited.
A related case number and reason must be entered prior to using the ALPR search function.
All authorized users shall complete ALPR training prior to having access to the system.
ALPR audits will be conducted quarterly by the Crimes Property Sergeant and reviewed by the Support Services Commander. 30-day retention period for all ALPR data; system access information shall be retained indefinitely.
This policy conforms to the provisions of the California Values Act (Government Code 7284) and California Senate Bill 34 (2015) ALPR Rules and Regulations (Civil Code 1798.90.5-1798.90.55).
Nothing in this policy shall supersede Fullerton Police Department Policy 415.7, Civil Code 1798.90.51 and Government Code 7824.6 (California Values Act). Members shall not release ALPR data or information to any agency for the purpose of or assistance with immigration enforcement.
DATA SECURITY
California law places specific limitations on the sharing and transfer of ALPR information. California Department of Justice guidance explains that California law-enforcement agencies generally may share ALPR information with another public agency only as permitted by law, and states that SB 34 does not permit California law-enforcement agencies to share ALPR information with private entities or out-of-state or federal agencies, subject to applicable statutory provisions and exceptions. Other California agencies who request access to Fullerton PD’s ALPR data must first submit a sharing authorization to the department for review and approval.
Quarterly audits conducted by the department continue to ensure that ALPR information is not accessed, shared, or used for purposes prohibited by California law and Fullerton Police Department Policy.
According to Flock’s Evidence Policy:
“The license plate data is securely captured, transmitted to the cloud, stored for [thirty (30)] days, and then permanently deleted. On the camera itself, data is only stored temporarily until it is uploaded to the cloud, at which point it is removed automatically from the local camera. Data transmitted from the Flock camera to Flock’s cloud environment is encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher through a secure connection to Flock servers. Once in the cloud, all data, including footage and metadata, is securely stored with AES-256 encryption at rest with our cloud provider, Amazon Web Services. This means the data is encrypted throughout its lifecycle, from the time it is captured on the Flock camera, while it is transmitted to the cloud, and while it is stored in the cloud. Flock defaults to permanently deleting all data after seven (7) days on a rolling basis unless otherwise required by law or the individual customer agreement. Data collected, stored, transmitted, and processed on devices and within Flock Safety’s cloud platforms is secured in accordance with Flock’s adoption of policies, procedures, and security controls necessary to identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover from cybersecurity events.”
RECOMMENDATION
This item provides City Council an opportunity to consider the continued use of ALPR technology by the Fullerton Police Department. If Council authorizes continuation of the program, the Department would continue to operate ALPR technology in accordance with Department policy, applicable law, and established City purchasing and budgetary requirements. If Council elects not to continue the program, Staff would take the necessary steps to discontinue the service and address the existing agreements in accordance with their terms.
The Fullerton Police Department recommends continuation of the existing Flock Safety ALPR program. The department's position is based on the program's investigative utility, its ability to provide timely vehicle-related information to officers and investigators, existing safeguards governing access and use, and the department's ability to maintain appropriate controls over the collection, retention, sharing, and use of ALPR information.
Continuation of the program would also allow the department to maintain existing infrastructure and operational familiarity while continuing to evaluate the program's effectiveness, privacy protections, data security, and compliance with applicable California law.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – PowerPoint Presentation
Attachment 2 – Flock Safety Contracts
Attachment 2 – FPD Policy 428
cc: City Manager Eddie Manfro
Flock Automated License Plate Reader Program
October 6, 2026 - Page 2