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

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

Key Facts

Council approval required
Yes, before deployment
Data retention
Set per-policy, must be disclosed
Third-party sharing
Must be justified in policy
Governing law
SDMC §210.0102(o), (q); §210.0104

Summary

Automatic license plate readers count as surveillance technology under San Diego's TRUST Ordinance, so SDPD needs City Council approval of a public Surveillance Use Policy covering data retention and sharing before deploying or expanding an ALPR program.

Examples of surveillance technology include the following: cell site simulators (Stingrays); automatic license plate readers; ... Data Retention: The time period, if any, for which information collected by the surveillance technology will be routinely retained ... Third Party Data Sharing: If and how information obtained from the surveillance technology can be accessed or used, including any required justification or legal standard necessary to do so.

Source: SDMC §210 TRUST OrdinanceView official code

Full Breakdown

SDMC §210.0102(o) lists automatic license plate readers as an example of regulated surveillance technology. Any Surveillance Use Policy the Council approves for an ALPR program, under §210.0102(q), must spell out data retention (how long plate data is kept and when it's deleted) and third-party data sharing (what agencies, including outside law enforcement, can receive it and under what legal standard). Staff must first route a Surveillance Impact Report through the Privacy Advisory Board under §210.0104 before Council votes, and the resulting policy is publicly posted.

Violations & Fines

Operating ALPR outside an approved Surveillance Use Policy, or retaining/sharing plate data beyond it, violates the Division. Affected individuals may sue for $1,000 or $100/day in liquidated damages plus attorney's fees up to $15,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does San Diego limit how long ALPR data is kept?
Yes: the required Surveillance Use Policy for any license plate reader program must state the retention period, why it's appropriate, and how data is deleted afterward, per SDMC §210.0102(q)(6).
Can SDPD share ALPR data with federal agencies?
Only if the Council-approved Surveillance Use Policy authorizes it; §210.0102(q)(8) requires the policy to disclose any third-party data sharing and the legal standard for it.

Sources & Official References

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All San Diego rules

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