The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates automated license plate reader systems under California Civil Code 1798.90.5 and SB 34 retention, security, and audit requirements applicable to all California ALPR operators.
California Civil Code 1798.90.5 through 1798.90.55, enacted by SB 34 in 2015, governs automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems statewide. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deploys fixed and mobile ALPR cameras and shares data through regional fusion centers including the Joint Regional Intelligence Center. SB 34 mandates a written usage and privacy policy, public posting, retention limits, security measures, employee training logs, and annual public audits. The California Supreme Court in ACLU v. Superior Court (2017) held ALPR records are subject to California Public Records Act disclosure with redaction. The County has not adopted retention limits shorter than five years. Incorporated cities such as Pasadena and Long Beach run separate ALPR programs.
Operating ALPR without a published SB 34 policy, exceeding retention without justification, sharing data with non-law-enforcement parties, or lacking audit logs can result in injunctions, statutory damages, and civil action under Civil Code 1798.90.54.
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See how Los Angeles County's license plate readers rules stack up against other locations.
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