Flock license plate readers: Difference between revisions

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Oakland Police Department reported 182 arrests from ALPR in the first year, representing 1.4% of homicides, robberies, burglaries, and firearm assaults. The Northern California Regional Intelligence Center states approximately 1-2 vehicles out of 1,000 initiate alerts — a hit rate of just 0.1-0.2%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ncric.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/California-Law-Enforcement-ALPR-FAQ.pdf |title=California Law Enforcement ALPR FAQ |website=NCRIC |date=2021 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref>

===Mountain View Findings===

The Mountain View Police Department became aware in early January in 2026 during a department-initiated audit that for a brief period in 2024 federal agencies accessed data from the first camera in operation in the city.

“During the prior federal administration, from August to November 2024, several federal law enforcement agencies accessed Mountain View’s Flock Safety ALPR system for one camera via a 'nationwide' search setting that was turned on by Flock Safety. This setting was enabled without MVPD’s permission or knowledge. The federal agencies that accessed the one camera’s data include Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offices in Kentucky and Nashville, TN; Langley Air Force Base in Virginia; the U.S. GSA Office of Inspector General; Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada; and an Ohio Air Force Base. Flock Safety did not retain records for that time period, which means the vendor cannot determine whether searches of Mountain View’s data resulted in license plate information being shared.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-30 |title=City Statement {{!}} City News {{!}} Mountain View, CA |url=https://www.mountainview.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1203/284 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.md/CDZ2Y |archive-date=2026-02-07 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=mountainview.gov}}</ref>

MVPD officers also uncovered that “statewide lookup” had been turned on for all the city’s cameras since the program began. This feature has been turned off by the department on January 5, 2026. The MVPD plans to present a review of the ALPR pilot program to the City Council.

On February 2, 2026 Mountain View Police Chief Mike Canfield announced that all of the city's license plate cameras are being disabled, effective immediately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Margaretten |first=Emily |last2=Morgan |first2=Zoe |date=2026-01-30 |title=Mountain View discovers unauthorized access to license plate data |url=https://www.mv-voice.com/police/2026/01/30/amid-immigration-crackdown-mountain-view-discovers-unauthorized-access-to-license-plate-data/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.md/xjjvu |archive-date=2026-01-31 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Mountain View Voice}}</ref>

==Camera locations==

@@ Line 171: / Line 171: @@
 Oakland Police Department reported 182 arrests from ALPR in the first year, representing 1.4% of homicides, robberies, burglaries, and firearm assaults. The Northern California Regional Intelligence Center states approximately 1-2 vehicles out of 1,000 initiate alerts — a hit rate of just 0.1-0.2%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ncric.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/California-Law-Enforcement-ALPR-FAQ.pdf |title=California Law Enforcement ALPR FAQ |website=NCRIC |date=2021 |access-date=5 Oct 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref>
+===Mountain View Findings===
+The Mountain View Police Department became aware in early January in 2026 during a department-initiated audit that for a brief period in 2024 federal agencies accessed data from the first camera in operation in the city.
+“During the prior federal administration, from August to November 2024, several federal law enforcement agencies accessed Mountain View’s Flock Safety ALPR system for one camera via a 'nationwide' search setting that was turned on by Flock Safety. This setting was enabled without MVPD’s permission or knowledge. The federal agencies that accessed the one camera’s data include Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offices in Kentucky and Nashville, TN; Langley Air Force Base in Virginia; the U.S. GSA Office of Inspector General; Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada; and an Ohio Air Force Base. Flock Safety did not retain records for that time period, which means the vendor cannot determine whether searches of Mountain View’s data resulted in license plate information being shared.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-30 |title=City Statement {{!}} City News {{!}} Mountain View, CA |url=https://www.mountainview.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1203/284 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.md/CDZ2Y |archive-date=2026-02-07 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=mountainview.gov}}</ref>
+MVPD officers also uncovered that “statewide lookup” had been turned on for all the city’s cameras since the program began. This feature has been turned off by the department on January 5, 2026. The MVPD plans to present a review of the ALPR pilot program to the City Council.
+On February 2, 2026 Mountain View Police Chief Mike Canfield announced that all of the city's license plate cameras are being disabled, effective immediately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Margaretten |first=Emily |last2=Morgan |first2=Zoe |date=2026-01-30 |title=Mountain View discovers unauthorized access to license plate data |url=https://www.mv-voice.com/police/2026/01/30/amid-immigration-crackdown-mountain-view-discovers-unauthorized-access-to-license-plate-data/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.md/xjjvu |archive-date=2026-01-31 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Mountain View Voice}}</ref>
 ==Camera locations==