California License Plate Readers: Laws, City Decisions, and Public Records

California is one of the states that wrote ALPR rules into statute instead of leaving every question to a local contract. This page summarizes those rules, points to a documented San Diego council debate, and explains how to request records under the California Public Records Act. It is not legal advice, and the map of reported cameras may be incomplete.

Does California have a law that regulates ALPR cameras?

Yes. California regulates automated license plate recognition in Civil Code sections 1798.90.5 through 1798.90.55, and it sets separate rules for California Highway Patrol data in Vehicle Code section 2413.

The Civil Code defines an ALPR system as a searchable database created by mobile or fixed cameras plus software that turns plate images into computer-readable data. It separately defines ALPR operators (who run a system) and ALPR end-users (who access or use one). According to the National Conference of State Legislatures overview updated September 28, 2026, Vehicle Code section 2413 lets the Highway Patrol keep ALPR data no more than 60 days unless the data is used as evidence in a felony case, bars selling or making the data available to non-law-enforcement officers or agencies, and requires internal monitoring and an annual report to the Legislature.

NCSL also notes that California is unusual in requiring an opportunity for public comment before a public agency implements an ALPR program, and that California is among the states that create a civil cause of action for security breaches or unauthorized access.

What must California cities and police departments publish?

They must maintain a written usage and privacy policy, post it conspicuously if they have a website, keep security safeguards, and record who accessed ALPR information and why.

Civil Code section 1798.90.51 and section 1798.90.53 require operators and end-users to implement a policy that covers, at a minimum:

• The authorized purposes for collecting or using ALPR information
• Which job titles may access the data, and what training they need
• How the system will be monitored and audited
• Rules for selling, sharing, or transferring the information
• The official custodian of the data
• Measures for accuracy and error correction
• How long information is kept and how it is destroyed

Operators that provide access to ALPR information must also log the date and time of access, the plate or other query used, the username, any organization affiliation, and the purpose. Before a public agency implements a program, section 1798.90.55 requires an opportunity for public comment at a regularly scheduled meeting of the agency’s governing body.

The same section says a public agency shall not sell, share, or transfer ALPR information except to another public agency, and only as otherwise permitted by law. Data hosting or towing services are not treated as a sale, share, or transfer.

Can California agencies share plate-reader data with federal or out-of-state police?

The California Department of Justice has advised that they may not, because “public agency” in this law means a California state or local agency.

In Information Bulletin 2023-DLE-06, the Attorney General’s office reminded law-enforcement agencies of their SB 34 duties. The bulletin states that the statutory definition of public agency is limited to state or local agencies, including law-enforcement agencies, and “does not include out-of-state or federal law enforcement agencies.” On that reading, the sharing ban applies to ALPR databases that California agencies access, not only to cameras they own.

If you are reading a local policy, check whether it restates that limit and how the agency says it audits queries. A posted policy is required; whether a particular search complied with the policy is a separate factual question.

What has San Diego decided about ALPR cameras?

San Diego’s official record shows a 2023 approval to pair streetlight technology with ALPR cameras, and a 2026 council committee item seeking to rescind that use.

The city’s own “People’s Business” post for October 20, 2026 said the Budget and Government Efficiency Committee would consider an item to terminate the automated license plate reader technology subcontract named in that city post. The post states that on November 14, 2023, the City Council approved a five-year agreement involving Ubicquia streetlight technology paired with that ALPR technology, and that the Privacy Advisory Board and council members had raised concerns. The item sought to direct the city attorney to draft a resolution rescinding council approval of the ALPR use policy and to amend the Trust Ordinance to prohibit ALPR technology.

KPBS reported on October 21, 2026, that the committee voted unanimously to turn the cameras off and to ban police use of the technology. The same article said it was unclear when the question would reach the full City Council, and that the mayor could veto a resolution. As of the sources checked for this page, treat the committee vote as real and the final citywide outcome as unfinished business. Check the San Diego City Clerk council docket for later action.

Other California cities have also debated contracts in public meetings. Those decisions are local and can change; search that city’s clerk agenda rather than assuming San Diego’s path applies statewide.

How do I request public records about California plate readers?

Submit a California Public Records Act request to the city, county, or police department that holds the records, and describe existing documents as clearly as you can.

The Public Records Act is now in Division 10 of the Government Code, starting at section 7920.000. Under Government Code section 7922.535, an agency generally has 10 days after receiving a request to determine whether it has disclosable records and to notify you, and it may extend that determination by up to 14 days in listed unusual circumstances. The 10-day clock is a decision deadline, not a promise that every file will be copied on day 10.

Practical steps:

1. Look first at the agency website. California law already requires the usage and privacy policy to be posted if the agency has a site.
2. Identify the agency that would have the records: the city clerk for council agendas and contracts, the police or sheriff for operational policies, or the county for sheriff programs.
3. Send a written request that names existing records rather than asking the agency to answer legal questions.
4. Keep a copy of what you sent and how you sent it.

Records that are often useful, when they exist, include:

• The ALPR usage and privacy policy
• Staff reports and minutes from the public-comment meeting required before implementation
• Vendor contracts, amendments, and renewals
• Retention schedules and sharing rules
• Annual or audit reports, including Highway Patrol reports to the Legislature where relevant

Agencies may withhold or redact some material under other Public Records Act exemptions, including certain investigatory records. Individual plate scans are not guaranteed to be released. This website cannot file the request for you and does not give legal advice.

To see reported camera locations, use the national map and remember that OpenStreetMap data can be incomplete. For background on the technology, see what an ALPR is.

What are common questions about California ALPR rules?

Does California’s law ban license plate readers?

No. It sets conditions on security, public policies, public comment, sharing, and (for the Highway Patrol) retention. Local governments still decide whether to adopt a program.

Where should I send a records request for a city police program?

Send it to that city or its police department, following the instructions on the city’s public-records page. Do not send a local request to this website.

Is this page affiliated with any camera vendor used in California?

No. Licenseplatereader.app is independent and is not affiliated with any camera company or government agency.

Sources

1. California Civil Code, Title 1.81.23, Collection of License Plate Information, §§ 1798.90.5–1798.90.55.
2. National Conference of State Legislatures, Automated License Plate Readers: State Statutes (updated September 28, 2026), summarizing Vehicle Code § 2413 and the Civil Code sections above.
3. California Department of Justice, Information Bulletin 2023-DLE-06.
4. California Government Code, § 7922.535.
5. City of San Diego, The People’s Business – October 20, 2026.
6. KPBS, City Council committee votes to end San Diego’s use of ALPR technology (October 21, 2026).

Last reviewed: November 9, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm). Later council votes can change a city’s program after this date.