NewsMyNewsLAOctober 27, 2026Los Angeles County
Los Angeles City Council Advances License Plate Reader Pilot Program
Photo: MyNewsLA
A three-month pilot program installing automated license plate-reading cameras on street lights in the west San Fernando Valley will proceed after the Los Angeles City Council rejected a motion to add further restrictions. The no-cost pilot with Axon Enterprise will test cameras mounted to street light poles in Council District 3. The program includes updated police department policies limiting data searches to 90 days, restricting access to authorized personnel, and prohibiting data sharing with federal and out-of-state immigration agencies.
Read the full story at MyNewsLAWhy It Matters
Residents in neighborhoods such as Encino, Woodland Hills, and Tarzana will see camera equipment installed on street lights to scan vehicle license plates for stolen cars or wanted suspects.
Key Facts
- The Los Angeles City Council voted 9-6 against a motion to send the automated license plate reader pilot program back to the Board of Police Commissioners for further review.
- The three-month pilot program will be implemented in Council District 3, covering neighborhoods like Encino, Woodland Hills, and Tarzana.
- Cameras will be clamped to street lights, drawing power from electrical connections, installed by subcontractor Ubicquia Inc. under an Axon Enterprise contract at no cost to the city.
- Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez's failed motion sought an independent third-party audit of past data use, board oversight for external data sharing, and stricter limits on officer access.
- The system generates a vehicle alert, but police department policy requires an officer to verify the plate and confirm status through an independent source before taking action.
- State laws and department policies prohibit sharing ALPR data with federal and out-of-state agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Updated LAPD policy restricts searchable data retention from two years down to 90 days and limits direct system access to 4,000 officers.
- Authorized officers must obtain supervisory approval, complete online video training, and pass a test to access the ALPR system.
- The Board of Police Commissioners previously approved a separate 10-year, $235 million contract with Axon for patrol-car cameras, body-worn cameras, Tasers, and cloud storage.
Who's Mentioned
PersonDean Gialamas“LAPD Chief Information Officer”OrganizationBoard of Police Commissioners“Body that oversees the Los Angeles Police Department and approved the pilot”OrganizationLos Angeles Police Department“Police department implementing the camera pilot”locationSignal Hill“City with a police department permitted for data sharing”PersonJim McDonnell“LAPD Chief who issued a notice about new ALPR guidelines”PersonBob Blumenfield“Councilman representing Council District 3”PersonMarqueece Harris-Dawson“Council President who opposed the veto”PersonAdrin Nazarian“Councilman who opposed the veto”locationLa Mesa“Entity mentioned in data sharing list”OrganizationMotorola Solutions“Provider of ALPR technology to the department”PersonTraci Park“Councilwoman who opposed the veto”OrganizationUbicquia Inc.“Subcontractor that would install the cameras on street lights”OrganizationAxon Enterprise“Vendor providing the automated license plate reader technology”PersonHugo Soto-Martinez“Councilman who sought additional safeguards and review for the pilot program”locationSimi Valley“City with a police department permitted for data sharing”PersonJohn Lee“Councilman who opposed the veto and advocated for the pilot”locationWest Covina“City with a police department, sharing data”OrganizationLos Angeles City Council“Legislative body that voted on the pilot program”locationGlendale“City with a police department permitted for data sharing”locationAlhambra“City with a police department, sharing data”locationTorrance“City with a police department permitted for data sharing”PersonRandy Goddard“LAPD Commander”PersonEunisses Hernandez“Councilwoman who criticized colleagues for moving forward with the program”locationHayward“City with a police department permitted for data sharing”locationHuntington Park“City with a police department permitted for data sharing”PersonMonica Rodriguez“Councilwoman who opposed the veto”locationLivermore“City with a police department, sharing data”