Policy Text
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Automated License Plate Reader Program
The purpose of this General Order is to establish policy and procedures for the use and
oversight of the D epartment’s Automated License Plate Reader ( ALPR ) technology.
I. Policy Statement
It is the policy of the S acramento Sheriff’s Office (SSO ) to utilize ALPR technology only
for official and legitimate law enforcement purposes, with the goal being to increase the
efficiency and effectiveness of its public safety efforts in a manner that safeguards the
legitimate privacy concerns of law abiding citizens. Depar tment personnel may use the
ALPR system for official use only. Any matches received from the ALPR must be
verified before enforcement action is taken. ALPR data that is not considered
intelligence and investigative information shall be retained for a maxi mum of tw o (2)
years .
II. Definitions
A. Automated License Plate Reader ( ALPR): A device that uses cameras
and computer technology to compare digital images of license plates to lists of known plates of interest.
B. Hot List : License plate( s) associated with vehicles of interest from an
associated database, including, but not limited to, NCIC, DMV, Local
BOLOs, etc.
C. Detection: Data obtained by an ALPR of license plates within public view
that were read by the device, including potential i mages of the plate and
vehicle on which it was displayed, and information regarding the location of the police cruiser at the time of the ALPR read.
D. Hit: Alert from the ALPR system that a scanned license plate number
may be in the National Crime Infor mation Center (NCIC) or other law
enforcement database for a specific reason including, but not limited to,
being related to a stolen car, wanted person, missing person, domestic
violence protective order or terrorist -related activity.
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III. General
A. ALPR ’s shall be used only by sworn or civilian members of the
Department who have been trained and certified in the use of the
equipment pursuant to SSD requirements.
B. No civilian or sworn member shall use or authorize the use of any ALPR
system or any ALPR database information for any reasons other than
official law enforcement purposes.
C. A positive Hit under the ALPR Program does not establish probable
cause. With the absence of exigent circumstances t he Hit
information/data must be confirmed prior to taking any related law
enforcement action.
IV. Roles and Responsibilities
A. General Use
1. ALPR Systems shall be deployed for official law enforcement
purposes, including, but not limited to:
a. Locating stolen vehicles, car jacked vehicles, stolen license
plates, wanted or missing persons, or vehicles on the Hot List;
b. Canvassing areas surrounding recent crimes to capture vehicle
tags that may be connected to crime scenes; and
c. Other uses as approved and documented by an appropriate
supervisor or ALPR Program administrator.
B. ALPR Administrator
1. The Field Support Division Commander, or designee, will act as the ALPR Administrator.
2. Shall ensure all ALPR system equipment is inspected, at minimum, on
a quarterly basis.
3. Shall coordinate training for all users of the Car Detector and LEARN
Programs.
4. Shall submit an ALPR Monthly Report to Division Commander s and
Assistant Commanders of any division deploy ing A LPR technology no
later than the 5
th day of each month.
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a. The report will include at a minimum total detections and hits
generated from the ALPR equipment.
5. Shall conduct periodic audits of user queries of the LEARN system as
well as update access to the database to those only who show a
conti nued need for it.
a. The audits will be completed by the Field Support Division
Security Operations Group and the results will be provided to
the Field Support Division Commander .
b. The purpose of an audit is to review the reasons for the user
queries and determine if the queries were completed for a valid need to know and a right to know basis.
c. The audits will be completed by selecting a random number of
ALPR system queries from a random selection of users .
d. The audits shall minimally be completed on an annual basis.
e. The results of the audits will be saved for two (2) years before
being purged.
C. ALPR Operators
1. The following personnel may be authorized to access and use the
ALPR system based on a need to know and right to know basis and
upon completion of training:
a. Sworn personnel assigned to an enforcement position.
b. Professional staff assigned to investigative functions.
c. Other personnel may be approved on an individual basis by the
Field Support Division C ommander .
2. Users only accessing the ALPR database (LEARN) will minimally
include privacy training, Criminal Justice Information System training, and computer security .
3. Users accessing the ALPR database (LEARN) and equipment ( Car
Detector) shall attend a D epartment approved ALPR training
course .
4. Users will be required to complete an approved retraining program
and review this General Order every two years.
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5. Users will be required to change their AL