FW: Please update Benicia's ALPR Policy
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--- page 1 --- 10/6/20251:58:56PM Sent: From: Edward Criado<ECriado@ci.benicia.ca.us To: "Mark" Cc: "Wendy Stratton", "Jake" Bcc: Importance: Normal Subject: FW: Please update Benicia's ALPR Policy Attachments image708784.png,image844796.png,image823414.png ,image668867.png,image399498.png,image613852.png ,image218129.png,image658443.png,image392415.png ,image725974.png,image830531.png ALPRpolicy2025.pdf FYl-Lionel sent this to me. EdwardCriad o DeputyPolice Chief ENIC Police Department EST 1941 O:707-746-4259 POLICE THECITY ECriado@ci.benicia.ca.us BENICIA www.ci.benicia.ca.us/police From:Lionel Largaespada<LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us> Sent:Monday,0ctober6,202512:53PM To: Subject:Re:PleaseupdateBenicia'sALPRPolicy Hi Thanksforthesequestions. TheBeniciaPolice Department's ALPRPolicy(Policy 470) is attached and available on the City of Benicia's website here:https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/index.asp?SEC=68826789-63C6-4FAF-A4C2-04FB539FE803&DE=ED828606-AC77- 47E9-97AC-7546BDB48514. Thepolicycovers all of theareasyou've asked about. It authorizesALPRtechnologyonlyforreading and comparinglicenseplatesand doesnotpermit anykind of predictive,biometric,or Al-based surveillance of people orbehavior(Sections 470.1and 470.4). It also prohibits sharing data with ICE or CBPunder the CaliforniaValues Act(Sections 470.7and 470.9),requires supervisory approval andwrittendocumentationforanyother datasharing(470.9),mandatesquarterlyauditsby the Services Lieutenant orthe Chief's designee (470.8), and makes the policy publicly available with penalties for misuse (470.3.1 and 470.4).— page 2 — TheCouncil receivesregularupdatesfromtheChief,and theCityManager and Chiefsetthetimingforwhen audit summariesorpolicyupdatesaresharedpublicly.It’susuallyasquicklyaspossible. safeguards you’ve asked about, and I’m confident it will continue to strike the right balance between privacy, accountability, and public safety. Sincerely, Lionel Lionel Largaespada CouncilMember ElectedOfficial O:707-746-4213|C: 415-377-XXXX LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us THE CITY BENICIA www.ci.benicia.ca.us VINMOTY f@on City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays.Learn more about closures here. From Sent:Sunday,0ctober5,202511:29AM To:Lionel Largaespada<LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us> Subject:Re:Please update Benicia’s ALPR Policy Caution: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or Lionel, open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Thank you so much for your quick reply. IhaveafewquestionsIhopeyoucananswer. Does the existing ALPR policy have specific language written that “does not permit predictive or Alsurveillanceofpeopleorbehavior”? Please share the link to the ALPR Policy. Are the “quarterly audits of ALPR use”, including “results documented and reviewed by the Chief of Police”, made available for the Mayor and City Council members to review? Will these resultsbepresentedataCityCouncilmeeting? Thank you for your time, OnFri, Oct 3,2025 at 11:24AMLionel Largaespada<LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us>wrote:
— page 3 — addresseswhatyou’verequested. Thepolicy only authorizesALPR technology to capture licenseplates and does notpermit predictive orAl surveillanceofpeopleorbehavior.It explicitlyprohibitssharingdatawithICEand CBPundertheCaliforniaValues law,theServicesLieutenantconductsquarterlyauditsofALPRuse,withresultsdocumented andreviewed bythe Chiefof Police.The policy is posted publicly on the department’s website,and violations carry administrative,civil, orevencriminalpenalties. Thanks again forwriting.The measures you suggested are already addressed under our existing policy. Sincerely, Lionel Lionel Largaespada Council Member ElectedOfficiall O: 707-746-4213 1 C: 415-377-XXXX LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us THE CITY BENICIA www.ci.benicia.ca.us City Hall is closed on alternatingFridays. Learn more about closures here. From: Sent:Friday,October3,202510:50AM To: SteveYoung<SYoung@ci.benicia.ca.us>; TrevorMacenski<TMacenski@ci.benicia.ca.us>;Kari Birdseye <KBirdseye@ci.benicia.ca.us>; Lionel Largaespada <LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us>; Terry Scott <TScott@ci.benicia.ca.us> Subject:PleaseupdateBenicia’sALPRPolicy Caution: This email originated from outside of the organization.Do not click links or Dear Mayor open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Young and Benicia City Council Members, I respectfully urge the Council to update Benicia’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Policy to ensure stronger community protections. Specifically, I ask that you consider amendments to:
- Prohibit the deployment of Al surveillance technologies in Benicia;
- Prevent the sharing of license plate data with federal agencies unless explicitly approved by the City Council;
- Strengthen and increase the transparency of system audits, including making audit results publicly available; 4.Require that updates to theALPRpolicyincludeCityCouncil approval. Thank you for your leadership and for your continued commitment to protecting the privacy andsafetyofBeniciaresidents.
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