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Davis, CA Privacy & Surveillance: License Plate Readers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Approval required
City council public hearing before deployment
Advance filing
Impact report and policy 30 days pre-hearing
Testing exception
60 days without council approval
Immigration data-sharing
Barred absent written consent or court order
Annual oversight
Written surveillance report each fiscal year
Enforcement
Injunction, writ of mandate, or misdemeanor

Summary

Davis requires city council approval at a public hearing before any city department, including police, can acquire or newly deploy automatic license plate readers under the Surveillance Technology Ordinance. A separate city ordinance also bars using city resources to send ALPR data, including license plate numbers, to immigration authorities without a court order.

No city department, agency, commission, officer, agent, representative, or employee may use city resources, including, but not limited to, equipment, tools, facilities, property, personnel, time, labor, or funds to: ... Communicate with immigration authorities regarding an individual's identity, including ... an individual's name, social security number, tax identification number, driver's license number, license plate number ... except as authorized in writing by the individual or their legal counsel, or pursuant to court order or judicial warrant as defined in California Government Code § 7284.4(i). ... Surveillance technology means any software, electronic device, system utilizing an electronic device, or similar ... Examples of surveillance technology, includes, but is not limited to, the following: cell site simulators (Stingrays); automatic license plate readers; gunshot detectors (ShotSpotter); facial recognition software ... A city department shall obtain city council approval following a public hearing conducted at a regular city council meeting prior to ... Acquiring new surveillance technology.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).

Full Breakdown

020). 030 requires city council approval at a public hearing, preceded by a surveillance impact report and a written Surveillance Use Policy covering data retention and third-party sharing, filed at least thirty days ahead. 050, but must return borrowed equipment within seven days. 060). 06, "Interaction with Immigration Authorities" (Ord. 030).

Violations & Fines

Any violation of the Surveillance Technology Ordinance is treated as an injury: a resident can sue in state court for an injunction, declaratory relief, or a writ of mandate under Section 26.07.070 after giving the city thirty days' written notice to cure. A court awards costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party, and a willful, malicious violation is separately a misdemeanor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Davis police need approval before using license plate readers?
Yes. The Surveillance Technology Ordinance names automatic license plate readers as a covered technology, so the police department must get city council approval at a public hearing, after filing a surveillance impact report and a data-use policy, before acquiring or newly deploying ALPR cameras.
Can Davis share ALPR data with immigration authorities like ICE?
Not routinely. Section 10.06.020(e) bars city departments from using city resources to communicate a license plate number or other identifying data to immigration authorities unless the individual consents in writing or the city is served with a court order or judicial warrant.
Can a department test a new camera system without council approval?
Yes, for up to sixty days. Section 26.07.040 lets a department run a limited test without council sign-off if it notifies the city manager in writing, posts a public notice, and seeks formal approval before continuing use past sixty days.
What can a resident do if Davis violates the surveillance ordinance?
They can sue for an injunction, declaratory relief, or a writ of mandate. Section 26.07.070 requires thirty days' written notice to the city first, and a prevailing resident recovers costs and attorney's fees; a willful, malicious violation is also a misdemeanor.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Davis

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All Davis rules

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