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Policy 470 v25.09.10.pdf

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Policy
470
CopyrightLexipol,LLC2025/09/10,AllRightsReserved.
PublishedwithpermissionbyBeniciaPoliceDepartment
Automated LicensePlateReaders(ALPRs)-450
BeniciaPoliceDepartmentBeniciaPDPolicyManual
AutomatedLicensePlateReaders(ALPRs)
470.1PURPOSEANDSCOPE
Thepurposeofthispolicyistoprovideguidanceforthecapture,storageanduseofdigital
data obtained through the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology.
470.2DEFINITIONS
(a)Automated LicensePlateReader(ALPR):Adevice thatusescamerasandcomputer
(b)ALPROperator:TrainedDepartmentmemberswhomayutilizeALPRsystem/equipment.
ALPR operators may be assigned to any position within theDepartment, and the ALPR
Administrator may order the deployment of the ALPRsystems foruse invarious efforts.
AdministratorfortheDepartment.
(d) Hot List: A list of license plates associated with vehicles of interest compiled from one
ormoredatabasesincluding,butnotlimitedto,NCIC,CADMV,LocalBOLO's,etc.
(e)Vehicles of Interest: Including,but not limited tovehicleswhich are reported as stolen;
vehiclesflaggedbytheDepartmentofMotorVehicleAdministrationorlawenforcement
agencies.
(f)Detection:DataobtainedbyanALPRofanimage(suchasa licenseplate)withinpublic
viewthatwasreadbythedevice,includingpotentialimages(suchastheplateand
description of vehicle on which itwas displayed), and information regarding the location of
theALPRsystematthetimeoftheALPR'sread.
(g)Hit:AlertfromtheALPRsystemthatascanned licenseplatenumbermaybeinthe
National Crime Information Center(NCiC) or other law enforcement database fora
specificreasonincluding,butnot limited to,beingrelatedtoastolencar,wantedperson,
missingperson,domesticviolationprotectiveorderorterrorist-related activity.
470.3ADMINISTRATION
automateddetectionof licenseplatesalongwiththevehiclemake,model,colorand
vehicleidentification technology.The technology isusedby theBeniciaPoliceDepartment
toconvertdataassociatedwithvehiclelicenseplatesandvehicledescriptionsforofficial
law enforcement purposes, includingidentifying stolen orwanted vehicles, stolen license
platesandmissingpersons.Itmayalsobeusedtogatherinformationrelatedtoactive
warrants,homelandsecurity,suspectinterdictionandstolenpropertyrecovery.
The Department Information Technology Manager will assign members under his/her
470.3.1ALPRADMINISTRATOR
TheServicesDivisionCommandershallberesponsibleforcompliancewiththe
requirementsofCivil Codes1798.90.5etseq.Thisincludes,butisnot limited to(Civil
CodeS1798.90.51;CivilCodeS1798.90.53):
allowedaccesstotheALPRsystemortocollectALPRinformation.
(b) Ensuring that training requirements are completed for authorized users.
(c) ALPR system monitoring to ensure the security of the information and compliance with
applicableprivacylaws.
(d) Ensuring that procedures are followed for system operators and to maintain records of
accessincompliancewithCivilCodes1798.90.52.
(e) The title and name of the current designee in overseeing the ALPR operation is
maintained.Continuallyworkingwith theCustodianofRecordsontheretentionand
destructionofALPRdata.
department'swebsite.
470.4OPERATIONS
UseofanALPRisrestricted tothepurposesoutlinedbelow.Departmentmembersshall
purp0se(Civil Code s 1798.90.51; Civil Code S 1798.90.53).
(a)AnALPRshallonlybeusedforofficiallawenforcementbusiness.
(b)AnALPRmaybeusedinconjunctionwithanyroutinepatroloperationorcriminal
investigation.
shouldbeentered intotheALPRsysteminanattempttoidentifysuspectvehicles.
withoutfirstcompletingdepartment-approvedtraining.
(e)Ifpracticable,theOfficershouldverifyanALPRresponsethroughtheCaliforniaLaw
Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) before taking enforcement action that
isbasedsolelyonanALPRalert.Onceanalertisreceived,theOfficershouldconfirmthat
the observed licenseplatefromthesystemmatches the licenseplate of theobserved
vehicle.BeforeanylawenforcementactionistakenbecauseofanALPRalert,thealertwill
beverifiedthroughaCLETSinquiryviaMDCorthroughDispatch.Officerswillnottakeany
policeactionthatrestrictsthefreedomofanyindividualbasedsolelyonanALPRalert
unlessithasbeenvalidated.BecausetheALPRalertmayrelatetoavehicleandmaynot
relatetothepersonoperatingthevehicle,Officersareremindedthattheyneedtohave
(Forexample,ifavehicleisenteredintothesystembecauseofitsassociationwithwanted
individual,Officersshouldattempttovisuallymatchthedrivertothedescriptionofthe
stop.)
(f)HotLists.Designationof hot liststobeutilizedbytheALPRsystemshallbemadebythe
ALPRAdministratororhis/herdesignee.Hotlistsshallbeobtainedorcompiledfrom
sources a may be consistent with the purposes of the ALPR system set forth in this Policy.
HotlistsutilizedbytheDepartment'sLPRsystemmaybeupdatedbyagencysourcesmore
system will not have access to real time data. Occasionally, there may be errors in the LPR
system'sreadofa licenseplate.Therefore,analertaloneshall notbeabasisforpolice
action(otherthanfollowingthevehicleofinterest).Priortoinitiationofastopofavehicle
orotherinterventionbasedonanalert,Departmentmembersshallundertakethe
following:
(1) Verificationof statuson a Hot List.Anofficermustreceive confirmation,from aBenicia
exigentcircumstances).
(2)Visualverificationof licenseplatenumber.Officersshallvisuallyverifythatthelicense
plateofinterestmatchesidenticallywiththeimageofthelicenseplatnumbercaptured
(read)bytheLPR,includingboththe alphanumericcharactersofthelicenseplate,state of
issue, and vehicle descriptors before proceeding. Department members alerted to the fact
BOLO(beonthelookout) listarerequiredtomakeareasonableefforttoconfirmthata
wantedpersonisactuallyinthevehicleand/orthatareasonablebasisexistsbeforea
swornOfficerwouldhavealawfulbasistostopthevehicle.
withanarrestorotherenforcementaction.lfitisnotobviousinthetextofthecallastothe
vehicleinthehotlist(hit).
(4) General Hot Lists (SVS,SFR,and SLR) will be automatically downloaded into the ALPR
(5) All entries and updates of specific Hot Lists within the ALPR system will be documented
bytherequestingOfficerwithintheappropriategeneraloffensereport.Assuch,specific
thereafterbe accomplishedpursuanttothe approvalof theOfficer'simmediatesupervisor.
The hits from these data sources should be viewed as informational; created solely to bring
theofficersattentiontospecificvehiclesthathavebeenassociatedwithcriminalactivity.
AllHotPlatesandsuspectinformationenteredintotheALPRsystemwillcontainthe
followinginformationasaminimum:
EnteringDepartmentmember'sname
-Relatedcasenumber.
-Shortsynopsisdescribingthenatureoftheoriginatingcall
(g) Training. No member of this Department shall operate ALPR equipment or access ALPR
datawithoutfirstcompletingDepartment-approvedtraining.
(h) Login/Log-OutProcedure.Toensureproperoperation and facilitateoversightofthe
ALPRsystem,alluserswillberequiredtohaveindividualcredentialsforaccessanduseof
thesystemand/ordata,whichhastheabilitytobefullyaudited.
Permitted/lmpermissible Uses.The ALPRsystem,and all data collected,istheproperty of
systemforofficialandlegitimatelawenforcementpurposesconsistentwiththisPolicy.
warrant,isaviolationofthisPolicytoutilizetheALPRtorecordlicenseplatesexceptthose
of vehicles that are exposed to public view (e.g., vehicles on a public road or street, or that
placetowhichmembersofthepublichaveaccess,suchastheparkinglotofashopor
otherbusinessestablishment).
(2)HarassmentorIntimidation:ItisaviolationofthisPolicytousetheALPRsystemto
harass and/orintimidate anyindividual orgroup,such asfor reproductive health care
investigations.
(3) UseBasedonaProtectedCharacteristic.Itisaviolationofthispolicytouse theALPR
gender, religion, political affiliation, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or
otherclassificationprotectedbylaw.
(4)Personal Use: It is a violation of thisPolicytousetheALPR systemorassociated scan
filesorhotlistsforanypersonalpurpose.
associatedscanfilesorhotlistsforthepurposeorknowneffectofinfringinguponFirst
Amendmentrights.
Anyonewho engages in animpermissibleuseof theALPRsystemorassociatedscan files
orhotlistsmaybesubjectto:
·criminalprosecution,
civil liability,and/or
·administrative sanctions, up to and including termination, pursuantto and consistent
470.5DATACOLLECTIONANDRETENTION
ALPRvendor,FlockSafetywillstorethedata(datahosting)andensurepropermaintenance
andsecurityofdatastoredintheirdatatowers.FlockSafetywillpurgetheirdataattheend
maintaininganyrelevantvehicledataobtainedfromthesystem afterthatperiodpursuant
totheestablishedCityofBeniciaretentionschedule.
RestrictionsonuseofALPRData:Informationgatheredorcollected,andrecordsretained
safetypurposes.
470.6ACCOUNTABILITYANDSAFEGUARDS
All data will be closely safeguarded and protected by both procedural and technological
access to and use of stored data(Civil Codes 1798.90.51;Civil Codes1798.90.53):
(a)Allnon-lawenforcementrequestsforaccesstostoredALPRdatashallbeprocessed in
accordancewithapplicablelaw.
(b)PersonsapprovedtoaccessALPRdataundertheseguidelinesarepermittedtoaccess
specific criminalinvestigation or department-related civilor administrative action.
(c)SuchALPRdatamaybereleasedtootherauthorizedandverifiedlawenforcement
officialsandagenciesforlegitimatelawenforcementpurposes.
(d) Every ALPR DetectionBrowsingInquiry mustbedocumented byeitherthe associated
For security or data breaches,see the RecordsRelease and MaintenancePolicy.
470.7POLICY
Thepolicy of theBeniciaPoliceDepartment is to utilize ALPRtechnology to capture and
ofthepublic.AlldataandimagesgatheredbytheALPRarefortheofficialuseofthis
department.Becausesuchdata maycontainconfidentialinformation,itis notopento
gatheredbytheCityoritscontractors/subcontractorsforpurposeoffederalimmigration
enforcement,pursuanttotheCaliforniaValuesAct(GovernmentCodes7282.5;
Government Codes7284.2etseq)-thesefederalimmigrationagenciesinclude
Immigrations and CustomsEnforcement(ICE)and Customs and BorderPatrol(CPB).
470.8ALPRDATADETECTIONBROWSINGAUDITS
ItistheresponsibilityoftheServicesDivisionCommanderortheChief'sdesigneeto
ensurethatanauditisconductedofALPRdetectionbrowsinginquiriesatleastquarterly
utilization from the prior 12-monthperiod to verify proper use in accordance with the above
authorizeduses.Theauditshallrandomlyselectatleast10detectionbrowsinginquiries
conducted by department employees during the preceding six-month period and
determine if each inquiry meets the requirements established in this policy. The audit shall
The memorandum shall include any data errors found sothat such errors can be corrected.
After review by the Chief of Police, the memorandum and any associated documentation
shall be filed and retained by Benicia Police Department.
470.9RELEASINGALPRDATA
The ALPR data maybeshared only with otherlaw enforcementorprosecutorial agencies
theshareddatawillonlybeusedforthepurposesthatarealignedwiththeBeniciaPolice
Department's policy. TheBenicia Police Department does not permit the sharing of ALPR
datagatheredbytheCityoritscontractors/subcontractorsforpurposeoffederal
Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CPB).
nonprosecutorial agencies will be processed as provided in the Records Maintenance and
Release Policy (Civil Code s 1798.90.55).
470.10TRAINING
The Training Manager should ensure that members receive department-approved training
forthoseauthorized touseoraccesstheALPRsystem(CivilCodes1798.90.51;Civil Code
$1798.90.53).
BeniciaPoliceDepartmentBeniciaPDPolicyManual
AutomatedLicensePlateReaders(ALPRs)
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/09/10, All Rights Reserved.
PublishedwithpermissionbyBeniciaPoliceDepartment
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) -