Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
1 01/24/2011 03/01/201 9
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENER AL ORDERS
__________________________
462 - Automated License Plate Reader 1 POLICY 462 AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS
462.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, also known as License Plate Recognition,
provides automated detection of license plates. ALPR’s are used by the Tustin Police Depa rtment
to convert data associated with vehicle license plates for official law enforcement purposes
including identifying stolen or wanted vehicles, stolen license plates and missing persons. ALPR’s
may be used to gather information related to active warra nts, homeland security, electronic
surveillance, suspect interdiction and stolen property recovery.
462.1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This policy pertains to the following CALEA standards: 41.3.9
462.2 ADMINISTRATION OF ALPR DATA
All installation , maintenance and service of ALPR equipment will be managed by the Fleet
Coordinator under the oversight of the Administrative Services Bureau Commander. ALPR data
retention and access shall be managed by the Crime Analyst and the Community Policing Bureau
Comm ander will assign personnel under his/her command to administer the day -to-day operation
of the ALPR equipment.
462.3 ALPR ADMINISTRATOR
The Operations Support Division Manager shall be responsible for developing guidelines and
procedures to comply w ith the requirements of Civil Code § 1798.90.5 et seq. This includes, but
is not limited to (Civil Code § 1798.90.51; Civil Code § 1798.90.53):
a) A description of the job title or other designation of the members and independent
contractors who are authori zed to use or access the ALPR system or to collect ALPR
information;
b) Training requirements for authorized users;
c) A description of how the ALPR system will be monitored to ensure the security of the
information and compliance with applicable privacy laws;
d) Procedures for system operators to maintain records of access in compliance with Civil
Code § 1798.90.52;
e) The title and name of the current designee in overseeing the ALPR operation;
f) Working with the Custodian of Records on the retention and destruction of ALPR data;
g) Ensuring this policy and related procedures are conspicuously posted on the department’s
website.
462.4 ALPR OPERATION
Use of ALPR is restricted to the purposes outlined below. Department personnel shall not use, or
allow others to use the eq uipment or database records for any unauthorized purpose. (Civil Code
§ 1798.90.51; Civil Code § 1798.90.53):
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
1 01/24/2011 03/01/201 9
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENER AL ORDERS
__________________________
462 - Automated License Plate Reader 2
a) ALPR shall only be used for official and legi timate law enforcement business;
b) ALPR may be used in conjunction with any patrol or official departm ent investigation .
Reasonable suspicion or probable cau se is not necessary for its use;
c) ALPR may be used to canvass license plates around any crime scene, particular
consideration should be given to using ALPR equipped cars to canvass areas surrounding
homicides, shootings and other major incidents. Partial license plates reported during
major crimes should be entered into the ALPR system in an attem pt to identify suspect
vehicles;
d) No member of this department shall operate ALPR equipment or access ALPR da ta
without first completi ng department approved training;
e) No ALPR operator may access department, state or federal data unless otherwise
authorized to do so ;
f) If practicable, the officer should verify an ALPR response through CLETS before taking
enforcement action that is based solely on an ALPR aler t.
462.4 ALPR DATA COLLECTION AND RETENTIONS
All data and images gathered by an ALPR are for the official use of the Tustin Police Department
and because such data may contain confidential CLETS information, i t is not open to public
review. ALPR information gathered and retained by this department may be used and shared with
prosecutors or others only as permitted by law.
The Operations Support Division Manager is responsible for ensuring systems and processes are
in place for the proper collection and retention of ALPR data. Data will be transferred from the
vehicles to the designated storage in accordance with department procedures.
Collection and retention of ALPR data is subject to the following guidelines :
a) Files will be automatically transferred via secure wireless upload from field units to Verio
servers located in Washington DC;
b) All data is stored in accordance with the PCI, HIPAA, and SOX IT governance
requirements for file storage;
c) All data retention is set by the Agency Manager in accordance to Tustin Police
Department policy (446.6 Media Storage, Integrity and Retention) ;
d) All legacy DATA911 ALPR data will be stored on dedicated city server equipment in
accordance to Tustin Police Department policy.
All ALPR data downloaded to the server should be stored for a minimum of one year
(Government Code § 340.90.6) , and thereafter should be purged unless it has become, or it is
reasonable to believe it will become, evidence in a criminal or civil action, or is subject to a
dis