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Supervisors seek to limit use of license plate reader information at Sheriff's Department
Other California cities use automated license plate readers, including San Francisco.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted this week to increase oversight of information gathered by automated license plate readers operated by the Sheriff’s Department.
Why now: The move came amid growing concerns the information could be shared with federal immigration agents. The supervisors voted on the item during their regular meeting Tuesday.
The technology: Automated license plate readers, which are mounted on police cars and on fixed locations like light poles, collect license plate numbers on vehicles. Law enforcement agencies use the information to help find crime suspects and stolen cars.
California law: While state law already bans local law enforcement, including city police departments and county sheriff’s offices, from cooperating with federal agents, a report by CalMatters found some agencies had shared license plate data on occasion, including the Los Angeles Police Department.
The board vote: The board motion asks the county Sheriff’s Department to develop a policy that clearly states that the data cannot be “disclosed, transferred or otherwise made available” to federal immigration agents unless required by law or a judicial warrant.
What’s next: The motion also called on the board to support state legislation that would limit law enforcement agencies from keeping license plate data beyond 60 days unless it's being used in a criminal investigation.
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