Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs)
Overview
The Monterey Park Police Department (MPPD) currently utilizes 34 stationary Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras. The cameras are installed within public rights of way and are used solely as a law enforcement investigative and situational awareness tool to support the City's public safety mission.
ALPR technology supports public safety operations by assisting MPPD in recovering stolen vehicles, identifying suspect vehicles associated with criminal activity, locating missing or at-risk persons, and confirming or eliminating investigative leads using time-stamped and location-based data.
MPPD is committed to protecting the privacy of our residents. The Department utilizes fixed ALPR cameras, which are designed to capture images and vehicle information only when a vehicle passes a camera location. These cameras are not designed or used to continuously monitor people, neighborhoods, or public spaces.
MPPD does not utilize Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras, nor does it use video cameras, or facial recognition technology in conjunction with ALPRs. Instead, the Department's fixed ALPR cameras provide investigators with vehicle-related information that may assist in solving crimes, locating stolen vehicles, identifying wanted vehicles, and supporting authorized criminal investigations.
Privacy Safeguards
MPPD requires strict compliance with California law, including the California Values Act codified at Government Code sections 7284 through 7284.12 (SB 54), as well as California Civil Code section 1798.90.5 et seq. (SB 34) governing the use of automated license plate recognition systems. In addition, MPPD has adopted a restrictive Department-wide policy (#439) and procedure-focused approach grounded in California law, policy, and active oversight.
MPPD conducts ongoing reviews and audits of ALPR data use to confirm that no federal or out-of-state entities have unintended or improper access to ALPR data. Comprehensive audit logging, along with a valid search request, is required for all access, searches, and activity within the system. Data retention limits are enforced through system configuration. It is important to note that the City of Monterey Park retains ownership and complete control of all data.
Preventing Misuse and Ensuring Lawful Use
MPPD has implemented specific safeguards to prevent misuse and ensure lawful use:
- Mandatory training on lawful ALPR use and California legal restrictions
- Regular audits of ALPR searches to ensure compliance
- System-level restrictions that block federal immigration enforcement–related searches in California
- Requirements that all searches be conducted for official police purposes and documented with an associated case/reference number and criminal offense code
- Prohibitions on personal or non-investigative use of ALPR data
1. What is an Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR)?
An ALPR is a camera system that photographs license plates visible from public roadways and converts the plate number into searchable text. The system helps law enforcement identify vehicles associated with criminal investigations, stolen vehicles, missing persons, AMBER Alerts, Silver Alerts and other public safety purposes.
2. Why is MPPD using ALPR technology?
The primary purpose is to improve public safety by helping officers quickly locate stolen vehicles, wanted suspects, missing persons and vehicles connected to criminal investigations. ALPRs are intended to be an investigative tool, not a tool for monitoring residents' daily activities.
3. What laws governs the Department's use of ALPR and how are the logs published under "Publicly Available Documents"?
The Department's ALPR use is governed principally by the state ALPR statute enacted through Senate Bill 34 (Civil Code § 1798.90.5, et seq.), the California Values Act enacted through Senate Bill 54 (Gov’t. Code § 7284, et seq.), and the Department's own policy on ALPR technology (Monterey Park Police Dept. Policy Manual § 439.3). Records concerning the Department's ALPR use are subject to the California Public Records Act (Gov’t. Code § 7920.000, et seq.), which is the mechanism through which the underlying logs were released. The California Public Records Act does not require the City to create records in response to record requests nor does it mandate explanations regarding such records. It requires only that disclosable records be provided to the requestor.
4. Does the ALPR system collect personal information about me?
No. The cameras capture license plates and images of vehicles. They do not identify the registered owner, driver, or passengers. Personal information is not contained within the ALPR record itself.
5. Are ALPR cameras recording continuously?
No. ALPRs only capture snapshots. They capture passing vehicles in public locations and do not record conversations or other private activities.
6. Does the system track where I go?
No. The system records snapshots of vehicle license plates that pass a camera location. It is not designed to continuously monitor an individual's movements.
7. Is facial recognition or biometric identification used with MPPD's ALPR systems?
No. MPPD does not use facial recognition technology, biometric identification, biometric surveillance, behavioral analytics, or predictive profiling tools in connection with its ALPR systems. ALPR cameras are limited to capturing images of vehicles and vehicle license plates and do not include facial recognition functionality. The system cannot be used to identify, analyze, or search for individuals based on race, ethnicity, gender, or other biometric identifiers, as defined under California law.
8. What information does an ALPR record contain?
Typically license plate number, date/time, camera location, direction of travel (if available), vehicle image and vehicle characteristics such as color or make (if available).
9. Does MPPD opt into Nationwide Lookup tools?
No. MPPD has opted out of the Nationwide lookup tools. This configuration ensures compliance with California law and ensures that data captured by MPPD system is accessed and used only by California State agencies.
10. Does MPPD share Flock data with ICE or other federal agencies, or with out-of-state police agencies?
No. Consistent with the California Values Act and the Trust Act (SB 54), MPPD does not share Flock data with law enforcement outside of California, or with federal agencies, for immigration enforcement purposes, except as required by a valid court order or subpoena.
11. May the Department share ALPR data with, or run searches for, other law enforcement agencies?
Yes, within the limits set by state law. A public agency must not sell, share, or transfer ALPR information except to another public agency, and only as otherwise permitted by law. (Civil Code § 1798.90.55(b).) The California Values Act separately provides that a California law enforcement agency must not use agency personnel or resources for immigration enforcement, including by providing personal information that is not available to the public. (Gov’t. Code § 7284.6(a).)
Law enforcement agencies routinely assist one another with legitimate investigations. Another agency may ask the Department for help when an investigation involves a possible victim or suspect within Monterey Park. The Department reviewed the searches it conducted in coordination with other agencies, including agencies that do not have direct access to the City's Flock system, and found that authorized personnel conducted them to assist California local and state agencies with legitimate investigations. The Department found no improper searches on behalf of outside agencies.
The Department recently reviewed searches connected to an investigation involving an agency outside California. In that matter, the Department did not provide ALPR images, search results, or other ALPR information to the out-of-state agency. The agencies exchanged only non-ALPR law enforcement records, such as arrest and booking information, to assist their respective investigations. No ALPR information was shared in a manner that state law prohibits.
12. How many subpoenas or court orders have been issued for Monterey Park’s ALPR data since its inception?
None.
13. Has MPPD ever experienced a data breach involving Flock systems?
No data breaches involving the MPPD Flock systems have been identified to date.
14. Was there a public hearing prior to the purchase and installation of the Flock cameras?
Yes. Through the annual budget process, City Council approved a broader deployment for Fiscal Years 2021-2022, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026. Opportunity for public comment was provided in accordance with City Council meeting protocols and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
15. Why do you list “Offense Code” and not "Reason" in your audits?
MPPD requires personnel to enter an Offense Code when conducting a search in the ALPR Safety system. These required fields document the specific criminal offense being investigated.
The "Reason" field within the system is an optional field provided by the vendor and is not required to perform a search. Because optional fields may be completed inconsistently, MPPD relies on the required Offense Code to ensure every search is associated with a documented law enforcement purpose and can be verified through an official case file.
This approach provides a more objective and auditable record of why a search was conducted while ensuring that all searches are tied to legitimate law enforcement investigations and are subject to supervisory review and audit.
16. Why do some searches lack case numbers or detailed reasons?
The documentation in the logs reflects the data-entry requirements that Flock imposed at the time of each search, and those requirements changed over time. Before December 2025, a user was not required to enter an offense code when running an ALPR search. A user could describe the search in the "Reason" field, but completing that field was optional. Flock made the offense-code field mandatory in December 2025 and began requiring a case or file number in March 2026.
As a result, historical records do not contain the same consistent documentation as records created under the current requirements. This difference reflects the evolution of Flock's required data-entry fields, not a failure to conduct searches for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Every ALPR search relates to an investigation. The Department continues to review its records and to maintain documentation consistent with current requirements.
17. Who at the Monterey Park Police Department has access to the ALPR system and is authorized to conduct searches?
MPPD patrol officers receive real-time alerts for events such as stolen vehicles, wanted vehicles, and vehicles associated with missing persons. These alerts assist officers in responding to active public safety incidents; however, patrol officers are not authorized to conduct investigative searches within the system.
Only MPPD Detectives and Public Safety Dispatchers (9-1-1 Dispatchers) are authorized to perform searches within the system. Every search must be conducted for an authorized law enforcement purpose and must be associated with a criminal offense and an official police report or case number.
To ensure accountability and compliance, all searches are reviewed through monthly supervisory audits conducted by MPPD. In addition, we maintain comprehensive audit logs and employs automated audit tools that help identify unusual, improper, or potentially suspicious search activity. This provides an additional layer of oversight by flagging search patterns that may warrant review. All user activity is logged and subject to audit, helping ensure the system is used only for legitimate law enforcement purposes and in compliance with California law and Department policy.
18. Has MPPD used a private investigation firm, or an unpurchased add-on feature called Nova?
No. The Department participated in a limited beta test of a Flock Safety feature called "Nova," which was designed to connect ALPR search information with information in the Department's computer-aided dispatch and records management systems. A small number of searches were labeled to reflect that testing. Those searches were used to determine whether the feature worked as intended. They were unrelated to any private company with a similar name. After the beta test, the Department did not purchase, implement, or deploy the feature.
19. How is my privacy protected?
MPPD follows strict policies governing authorized use, user authentication, access controls, data retention, auditing, employee training and criminal justice security standards. Only authorized personnel may access ALPR information for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
20. What uses of the ALPR system are authorized, and what uses are prohibited? Can the system be used for routine traffic enforcement, such as issuing citations for red light, stop sign or speeding tickets?
Under Department policy, ALPR technology may be used only for legitimate, official law enforcement purposes. (Monterey Park Police Dept. Policy Manual § 439.3.) Prohibited uses include immigration enforcement, routine traffic enforcement, harassment or intimidation, use based solely on a protected classification such as race, sex, or religion, and personal use.
The presence of the word "traffic" in a search does not mean the ALPR system was used for routine traffic enforcement. A traffic-related description may reflect a criminal investigation involving a vehicle, or another authorized law enforcement matter. The Department reviewed the searches that referenced traffic and found no evidence that ALPR information was used to issue traffic citations. Some of these searches supported legitimate investigations of suspected criminal activity, ranging from misdemeanor offenses to felonies, as well as matters involving habitual parking offenders.
For example, detectives working undercover followed a vehicle believed to be connected to a suspect. The vehicle fled at high speed, and investigators lost sight of it. The detectives used the ALPR system to relocate and identify the vehicle, which was later confirmed to be connected to a fraud suspect who was arrested. That was an investigative use involving a suspected crime, not routine traffic enforcement.
21. How long is ALPR data retained?
ALPR data is retained for (30) days. Data is automatically deleted at the expiration of the applicable retention period.
22. Is every search recorded?
Yes. Every access is logged, including the user, date and time, reason for access and search criteria.
23. Is the system monitored for misuse? What happens if someone misuses the system?
Yes. Regular audits review user activity, search history, and compliance. Unauthorized access or improper use may result in loss of access, disciplinary action, termination or criminal prosecution when applicable.
24. Is ALPR data sold?
No. ALPR data is never sold.
25. Can residents review the agency's ALPR policy?
Yes. The policy is publicly available on MPPD's Transparency Portal and describe authorized uses, privacy protections, retention, sharing, oversight and accountability.
Monterey Park Mass Shooting Suspect (2023)
Off-Duty Officer Homicide (2022)
Burglary/Stalking Investigation (2026)
Robbery Investigation (2026)
Critical Missing Person Investigation (2026)
Auto Burglary Investigation (2026)
Assault with a Deadly Weapon Investigation (2025)
Theft Investigation (2026)
Auto Burglary Investigation (2026)
Criminal Threats Investigation (2026)
Lewd Acts with a Minor Investigation (2026)
Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling Investigation (2026)
Auto Burglary and Identify Theft Investigation (2025)
The City of Monterey Park Police Department maintains a real-time ALPR Transparency Portal to provide the public with data, usage, sharing, policy and search audit information.
View the Monterey Park Police Department's Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Policy (PDF)
View the Monterey Park Police Department's ALPR Quick Facts Sheet
On August 11, 2026, MPPD held a Community Meeting to discuss and answer questions about the City's ALPR system.
View the slides from the meeting here. Version Options Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) Headline
All publicly available documents can be viewed and downloaded on NextRequest. Please note that records are released on a rolling basis as they are available.