NewsTimes of San DiegoOctober 28, 2026San Diego County
Former Sheriff's Commander Calls for Countywide Regulation of Automated License Plate Readers
Photo: Times of San Diego
A retired San Diego County Sheriff's Department commander argues that automated license plate reader networks require strict countywide regulation and public transparency to prevent unauthorized tracking, misuse, and data sharing. The author highlights that millions of searches are conducted through regional networks with little local oversight and calls on local officials and the Board of Supervisors to enforce uniform accountability standards.
Read the full story at Times of San DiegoWhy It Matters
Residents face widespread tracking of their daily travel patterns by automated cameras without public visibility into who accesses the data or why, raising privacy concerns across municipal boundaries in San Diego County.
Key Facts
- A San Diego City Council committee voted unanimously to begin the process of removing city-used Flock Safety cameras, pending a potential mayoral veto.
- Mayor Todd Gloria attributes automated license plate reader systems to support in roughly 900 investigations and the recovery of 8.7 million dollars in stolen goods.
- La Mesa's 20 automated cameras were queried more than 3.13 million times over seven months, averaging over 14,000 searches per day.
- The San Diego County Sheriff's Department conducted 57,879 searches using La Mesa cameras.
- A public records request for La Mesa's audit logs returned documents with every search justification completely redacted.
- Automated license plate reader cameras can identify vehicle make, model, color, roof racks, and bumper stickers even when license plates are unreadable, functioning similarly to facial recognition for vehicles.
- Documented misuse of automated reader systems nationwide includes tracking ex-partners, locating a woman who managed an abortion in Texas, and immigration checks by federal agents.
- Two men arrested erroneously after being identified by license plate readers have filed lawsuits against the city of San Diego.
- Reports from CalMatters and inewsource in June 2025 indicated the Sheriff's Department conducted searches on behalf of Customs and Border Protection or the Border Patrol despite state prohibitions against sharing data for immigration purposes.
- The San Diego Police Department logged nearly 4,000 searches under a generic 'other' category before removing the option.
- The author calls on the Board of Supervisors to order the Sheriff's Department to publish its 2025 internal review and adopt a countywide uniform policy.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationTimes of San Diego“News publication reporting on automated license plate reader search statistics”locationLa Mesa“City utilizing automated license plate reader cameras connected to a statewide n”OrganizationJewish Family Service of San Diego“Organization where the author served as safety and security director”PersonTodd Gloria“Mayor of San Diego”OrganizationOficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza“Federal agency referenced in reports regarding data sharing restrictions”OrganizationFlock Safety“Manufacturer and provider of automated license plate reader cameras”Organizationinewsource“News organization reporting on sheriff data sharing with federal authorities”locationPoway“City whose surveillance systems are administered by the Sheriff's Department”locationGrossmont Center“Commercial center in La Mesa captured by local cameras”OrganizationPatrulla Fronteriza“Federal agency referenced in reports regarding data sharing restrictions”OrganizationSan Diego County Sheriff's Department“Local law enforcement agency operating automated license plate reader networks a”locationEncinitas“City whose surveillance systems are administered by the Sheriff's Department”OrganizationCalMatters“News organization reporting on sheriff data sharing with federal authorities”locationSan Diego“City weighing the elimination of automated license plate reader cameras”PersonDavid A. Myers“Author of the opinion article and retired commander of the San Diego County Sher”