ALPR technology uses a combination of cameras and computer software to scan the license plates of passing vehicles.

These computer-readable images of license plates allow the police to compare plate numbers against plates of wanted vehicles and vehicles associated with wanted persons and missing persons.

(Proposed)ALPR camera are positioned at fixed locations in Palm Springs to capture rear license plates only and are not designed to capture images of vehicle occupants or utilize facial recognition technology.  To derive maximum benefit with the fewest cameras needed, cameras are typically placed at strategically-selected locations based on several factors: crime statistics, common vehicular ingress and egress points, and traffic volume.

The use of ALPR technology provides several benefits, including crime deterrence, real-time alerts to police when stolen or wanted vehicles enter an area, and enhanced investigative capabilities when a crime has already occurred.

• Deterrence: Even if officers are unable to locate and stop the vehicle in question, suspects may see the police response and be deterred from further criminal activity. Indeed the mere presence of the ALPR cameras, visibly mounted on public infrastructure and potentially accompanied by signage, may act as a deterrent. Police personnel have reported to staff that some criminals will intentionally target jurisdictions without ALPR technology to increase their chances of successfully avoiding detection while committing crimes.

• Real-Time Alerts: When a real-time ALPR alert occurs, notifying police of the presence of a wanted or stolen vehicle, officers can respond to the area to search for the vehicle. If officers locate the vehicle, prior to making an enforcement stop, they visually confirm the plate number and manually check it against law enforcement databases to confirm the accuracy of the ALPR information and the legal justification for the stop.

• Solve Crimes Already Committed: In addition to providing opportunities to prevent crime and apprehend wanted persons via real-time alerts, ALPR data is used by investigators to solve crimes that have already occurred.  Commonly, by the time a crime is reported to police, the suspects have already fled the area, and it is the job of police to identify and locate the suspects at a later time.  While victims and witnesses can often provide responding officers with a description of the vehicle used by a suspect, those descriptions are frequently incomplete (e.g., a partial license plate number, vehicle type and color only) or consist of a license plate number that corresponds to a stolen vehicle or a stolen plate.  Investigators can turn that imperfect or incomplete information into actionable leads by querying the ALPR database.

• Regional Coordination: ALPR data sharing among local law enforcement partners allows agencies to collaboratively investigate, identify and apprehend multi-jurisdictional offenders, or those who commit crimes in one jurisdiction but reside in another.

• Expanded Searchable Data Set: Private entities (e.g., homeowners associations, shopping centers, individual retailers) utilizing ALPR cameras can also elect to share their data with local law enforcement, to include real-time alerts when wanted or stolen vehicles are captured.  Multiple such entities exist in Palm Springs, including the SmokeTree Shopping Center, SmokeTree Commons, the Big Box stores at Gene Autry and Ramon and our Uptown and Downtown Shopping Districts.  This is a one-way share of information; a private entity that shares its ALPR data with law enforcement does not gain access to law enforcement data in return.  The investigative usefulness of an ALPR system is greatly enhanced as its searchable data set increases, whether from other law enforcement contributors or private entities.

The system captures the following information:

• Date, time, and location
• License plate (including the state, the plate number or partial plate number, or the absence of a license plate)
• Vehicle characteristics (the make, model, type, and color)
• A photo of the rear of the vehicle showing the license plate

The system is not intended to capture images of vehicle occupants (ALPR cameras would photograph passing vehicles from the rear).

The system does not use facial recognition technology.

Here is a sample ALPR image:

Data captured by ALPR technology is automatically purged after 30 days, unless a specific record has been identified as relevant to a specific criminal investigation.

Many law enforcement agencies already employing ALPR technology choose to store all data for up to one year or longer.  The Police Department believes that a retention period of 30 days is sufficient in Palm Springs.

The Police Department is mindful of privacy concerns that some community members may have about ALPR technology and the data that it collects.  The Police Department took those concerns into account when proposing how the use of ALPR technology could be implemented in Palm Springs, and City Council discussed those concerns and our responses to them prior to authorizing our use of the technology.

• The use of ALPR technology is specifically regulated by California Civil Code §1798.90.5, et seq..The Department's policies and training satisfy the requirements of all of this statute.
  
  
• The Police Department has ensured that ALPR cameras are positioned at fixed locations in Palm Springs to capture rear license plates only and are not positioned to capture images of vehicle occupants or utilize facial recognition technology.  To derive maximum benefit with the fewest cameras needed, cameras are typically placed at strategically-selected locations based on several factors: crime statistics, common vehicular ingress and egress points, and traffic volume.
  
  
• Data captured by ALPR technology is automatically purged after 30 days, unless a specific record has been identified as relevant to a specific criminal investigation.  Many law enforcement agencies already employing ALPR technology choose to store all data for up to one year or longer.  The Police Department believes that a retention period of 30 days is sufficient in Palm Springs.
  
  
• Data obtained from ALPR technology is only accessible to properly trained staff with a legitimate law enforcement need, and all queries are logged and subject to audit.  This is consistent with decades-long legal standards of access to other law enforcement computer databases, like driver license information, vehicle registration information, and criminal history records.  Unlawful use of law enforcement computer databases is against state law, and subjects personnel to civil and criminal liability as well as discipline up to and including termination.
  
  
• ALPR data is transmitted in an encrypted format and stored remotely by our contracted third-party vendor, Flock Safety, consistent with industry-standard Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) security protocols.  The Police Department accesses the data via a secure web-based platform.
  
  
• To view the policy governing our use of ALPR technology, visit our Police Policy Manual page, download the manual, and navigate to Policy §430. 

Didn't you already have ALPR technology installed in patrol cars?

• The Police Department has one patrol car equipped with a mobile ALPR unit.  It has had this unit for over ten years, and has recovered stolen vehicles and located wanted criminals as a result.  The limitation of a single mobile ALPR was that alerts and data collection only occur when that vehicle is being operated by an officer, which is limited by staffing, calls for service, and other duties.  Data is also limited to the route and distance traveled by the single patrol vehicle.

• In September 2023, City Council authorized the Police Department to contract with Flock Safety to install fixed ALPR cameras at strategically-selected locations in Palm Springs based on several factors: crime statistics, common vehicular ingress and egress points, and traffic volume.  Implementation of ALPR technology is underway as of the last week of January 2024.

Who within the Police Department can access the data?

• Data obtained from ALPR technology is only accessible to properly trained staff with a legitimate law enforcement need, and all queries are logged and subject to audit.  This is consistent with decades-long legal standards of access to other law enforcement computer databases, like driver license information, vehicle registration information, and criminal history records.  Unlawful use of law enforcement computer databases is against state law, and subjects personnel to civil and criminal liability as well as discipline up to and including termination.

Are neighboring police agencies using ALPR technology?

• Other local communities are currently using fixed ALPR technology, including Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and La Quinta with several other local jurisdictions in the process of implementing the technology.  These jurisdictions anecdotally report that, since the deployment of fixed ALPR, they have experienced a marked increase in the recovery of stolen vehicles, as well as investigative success stories attributable to ALPR data.

Where in Palm Springs are the ALPR cameras located?

• To derive maximum benefit with the fewest cameras needed, cameras are placed at strategically-selected locations based on several factors: crime statistics, common vehicular ingress and egress points, and traffic volume.  As the ALPR cameras are a law enforcement investigative tool, the Police Department does not provide their locations on this website. If criminals are made aware of the location of the devices in advance, they could take measures to avoid detection by the system.

Are ALPR cameras located in my neighborhood?

• The Police Department will not install ALPR cameras permanently in residential neighborhoods.  However, if faced with a specific crime trend in a particular neighborhood, the Police Department could temporarily relocate an ALPR camera into that neighborhood long enough to address the crime trend. It should be noted, that neighborhoods can choose to purchase Flock ALPR themselves, and provide the data to the Police Department. 

How many cameras are there?

• As of January 2024, ten ALPR cameras are active, with another 5 planned for the near future.  Fifteen cameras will adequately cover key areas of Palm Springs and provide the flexibility to temporarily relocate cameras if necessary to address a specific crime trend.

How long do you store the data?

• Data captured by ALPR technology is automatically purged after 30 days, unless a specific record has been identified as relevant to a specific criminal investigation.

Does ALPR technology use facial recognition software?

• No.

Does ALPR technology capture my picture while I drive my car?

• ALPR cameras are not designed to capture images of vehicle occupants or utilize facial recognition technology.  They are positioned at fixed locations designed to capture images of rear license plates only.

Does ALPR technology provide constant surveillance of members of the public?

• No.  ALPR technology only provides authorized law enforcement personnel with information about a vehicle located on a public roadway for a single moment in time at a single location.  This information is only used by law enforcement to provide potential leads to support criminal investigations.

Does the Police Department share its ALPR data with other local police agencies?

• Yes.  ALPR data sharing among local law enforcement partners, in California only, allows agencies to collaboratively investigate, identify and apprehend multi-jurisdictional offenders, or those who commit crimes in one jurisdiction but reside in another.  Individual memorandums of agreement between the Police Department and each other local police agency with which Palm Springs ALPR data is shared are signed prior to the sharing of any data.
  
  
• Currently, the Police Department has signed memorandums of agreement with the following agencies: CLICK HERE FOR OUR TRANSPARENCY PORTAL

Will ALPR data be used for immigration purposes?

• No.

How much does ALPR technology cost?

• The total estimated costs of our three-year contract with Flock Safety to provide ALPR technology is approximately $95,750 (which includes $50,750 for the balance of FY23 and all of FY24, plus $45,000 annually for FY25 ).

What research did the City do prior to implementing ALPR technology?

• The department conducted a Surveillance Evaluation consisting of five specific elements prior to the recommendation to implement fixed ALPR technology in Palm Springs:

(1) A description of the surveillance technology, including how it works and what information it captures;

A fixed ALPR system captures the date, time, location, license plate (state, partial, paper, and no plate), and vehicle characteristics (make, model, type, and color) of passing vehicles. ALPR cameras are positioned to capture rear license plates only and are not designed to capture images of vehicle occupants or use facial recognition technology. ALPR data is transmitted in an encrypted format to, and stored by, Flock Safety, consistent with Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) protocols. The Department will access the data via a web-based platform.

(2) Information on the proposed purpose, use and benefits of the surveillance technology;

Purpose & Use: Recent years have seen regional increases in catalytic converter thefts, auto burglaries, vehicle thefts and organized retail thefts. The community has also experienced several brazen robberies and residential burglaries. Those responsible for such crimes commonly use a vehicle to travel to and flee from the crime scene. Moreover, they often engage in criminal offenses involving multiple jurisdictions, and commonly arrive in a stolen vehicle, a vehicle bearing stolen plates, or a vehicle that law enforcement has previously connected to verified criminal activity. Identifying such vehicles, via fixed ALPR, as they enter a target area provides law enforcement an opportunity to intervene before additional crimes are committed, and potentially apprehend wanted persons or recover stolen property. ALPR data also provides investigators with an additional technique to identify and apprehend offenders once a crime has already occurred.

Other local communities are currently using fixed ALPR technology, including Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio, Desert Hot Springs, with others in the process of implementing the technology. Anecdotally, these jurisdictions report that since the deployment of fixed ALPR, they have experienced a marked increase in the recovery of stolen vehicles and report investigative success stories attributable to ALPR data.

Benefits of Usage: The use of ALPR technology provides several potential benefits:

• Real-Time Alerts: When a real-time ALPR alert occurs, notifying police of the presence of a wanted or stolen vehicle, officers can respond to the area to search for the vehicle. If officers locate the vehicle, prior to making an enforcement stop, they visually confirm the plate number and manually check it against law enforcement databases to confirm the accuracy of the ALPR information and the legal justification for the stop.

• Deterrence: Even if officers are unable to locate and stop the vehicle in question, suspects may see the police response and be deterred from further criminal activity. Indeed, the mere presence of the fixed ALPR cameras may act as a deterrent. Police personnel have reported to staff that some criminals will intentionally target jurisdictions without ALPR technology and avoid those where it is in use.

• Solving Crimes Already Committed: Commonly, by the time a crime is reported to police, the suspects have already fled the area, and it is the job of police to identify and locate the suspects later. While victims and witnesses can often provide a description of the vehicle used by a suspect, those descriptions are frequently incomplete (e.g., a partial license plate number, vehicle type and color only) or consist of a license plate number that corresponds to a stolen vehicle or a stolen plate. Investigators can turn that imperfect information into actionable leads by querying the ALPR database. Existing DMV databases do not offer this capability.

• Regional Coordination: ALPR data sharing among local law enforcement partners allows agencies to collaboratively investigate, identify and apprehend multi-jurisdictional offenders, or those who commit crimes in one jurisdiction but reside in another. For example, in the case of organized retail thieves, ALPR data sharing may allow investigators to connect multiple cases across disparate jurisdictions, share evidence, and obtain the best prosecutorial outcomes.

• Expanded Searchable Data Set: Private entities (e.g., shopping centers, individual retailers) utilizing ALPR cameras can share their data with local law enforcement, to include real-time alerts. This is a one-way share. In other words, an entity that shares its ALPR data with law enforcement does not gain access to law enforcement data in return. The investigative usefulness of an ALPR system is greatly enhanced as its searchable data set increases, whether from other law enforcement contributors or private entities.

The Department believes that the deployment of a fixed ALPR system, with sound polices and training, would support crime prevention, criminal apprehension, stolen vehicle recovery, and criminal investigation.

(3) The location or locations where the surveillance technology may be used;

To derive maximum benefit with the fewest cameras needed, cameras will be placed at strategically selected locations based on several factors: crime statistics, common vehicular ingress and egress points, and traffic volume. Accounting for these factors provides the greatest likelihood of capturing images of suspects’ vehicles and their license plates. While the Department has no intention of permanently installing ALPR cameras in residential neighborhoods, cameras could be temporarily repositioned in response to a specific crime in a specific neighborhood. If placed in a residential neighborhood, cameras would not be positioned to capture images of homes, front yards, or pedestrians.

(4) Existing federal, state and local laws and regulations applicable to the
 surveillance technology and the information it captures; the potential impacts on civil liberties and privacy; and proposals to mitigate and manage any impacts;

Some organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have generally expressed concerns about the use of ALPR, specifically on the aspects of data access, storage, retention, sharing, and reporting. The Department’s ALPR Policy is responsive, in whole or in part, to each of these concerns and the ACLU’s LPR guidelines.

Data captured by ALPR technology is automatically purged after 30 days, unless a specific record has been identified as relevant to a specific criminal investigation.

In addition to the Palm Springs Police Department’s policy, California Civil Code §1798.90.5, et seq. governs the collection of license plate information by government agencies. It spells out the policies and training that an agency must implement when collecting ALPR data. These policies, largely, address the same concerns set forth above. The Department will ensure that its policies and training satisfy the requirements of this statute. Flock Safety has adopted a usage and privacy policy consistent with California Civil Code §1798.90.5, et seq. Moreover, by the terms of the proposed contract with the City, Flock Safety is required to observe specific data security protocols, including restricting data access only to that which is necessary for system maintenance, logging all access by its employees, conducting quarterly compliance audits, and permitting the City to review these audits logs.

Internally, data will only be accessible to trained staff with a legitimate law enforcement need, and all queries will be logged and subject to audit. Whereas some local law enforcement agencies share data with federal and out of state law enforcement agencies, the Department will only share its data with other local law enforcement agencies with whom an MOU is in place, and those queries would likewise be logged. Neither the Department, nor Flock Safety, will share the Department’s data with any non-law enforcement entities. The Department has made accessible to the public, via its ALPR webpage, relevant policies and will include information concerning the number of cameras deployed, the data retention period, and the names of law enforcement agencies with whom it shares data. Flock Safety will also maintain a publicly accessible Transparency Portal containing much of the same information.

(5) The costs for the surveillance technology, including acquisition, maintenance, personnel and other costs, and current or potential sources of funding.

In year one, the initial deployment of this ALPR technology would come at a total cost of $50,750.00, including the initial installation and setup. In year two, the on- going annual cost is $45,000.00. This includes access to the cameras, data storage, and access to the ALPR database. The Department anticipates no more $2,500 will be needed annually to repair any damaged equipment. The Department anticipates to use funds approved in the current budget cycle. 

Can I read the policy on ALPR usage?

• Yes.  To view the policy governing our use of ALPR technology, visit our Police Policy Manual page, download the manual, and navigate to Policy §430.