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NewsMyNewsLAOctober 27, 2026Los Angeles County

Los Angeles City Council Approves License Plate-Reader Pilot Program for West San Fernando Valley

Photo: MyNewsLA

The Los Angeles City Council voted 9-6 to reject a motion that would have sent a license plate-reader pilot program back for further review, allowing the three-month test to proceed in Council District 3. Under the no-cost contract with Axon Enterprise, cameras will be installed on street lights to draw power from electrical connections. The program will operate alongside updated LAPD policies that restrict data retention to 90 days and limit system access to 4,000 trained officers.

SurveillanceLaw EnforcementTechnologyLocal GovernmentData Privacy
Read the full story at MyNewsLA

Why It Matters

Residents in neighborhoods such as Encino, Woodland Hills, and Tarzana will have automated license plate-reading cameras installed on street lights near them, while the LAPD implements a new data-sharing and privacy framework affecting how vehicle location data is stored and accessed.

Key Facts

  • The Los Angeles City Council rejected a motion to send the automated license plate reader pilot program back for review in a 9-6 vote.
  • Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez needed 10 votes to pass his motion, falling short by one vote.
  • The three-month pilot program will be implemented in Council District 3, including Encino, Woodland Hills, and Tarzana.
  • Axon Enterprise holds a no-cost contract with the LAPD to clamp cameras to street lights, drawing electrical power from the lights.
  • Ubicquia Inc. is the subcontractor tasked with installing the cameras.
  • Under updated LAPD policies, searchable ALPR data retention is reduced from two years to 90 days.
  • Access to captured data is restricted to 4,000 officers who must obtain supervisory approval and complete online video training and a test.
  • The system generates alerts, but department policy requires an officer to independently verify the plate status before taking action.
  • State law and department policy prohibit sharing ALPR data with federal and out-of-state agencies such as ICE.
  • 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 in September.

Who's Mentioned

PersonDean Gialamas“LAPD Chief Information Officer”OrganizationBoard of Police Commissioners“Board that oversees the LAPD and approved the pilot in September”OrganizationLos Angeles Police Department“Police department implementing the automated license plate reader technology”PersonJim McDonnell“LAPD Chief who issued a notice about new ALPR guidelines”OrganizationPublic Safety Committee“Five-member committee that previously voted to recommend rejecting the pilot”PersonBob Blumenfield“Councilman representing Council District 3 who supported the pilot”PersonMarqueece Harris-Dawson“Council President who opposed the veto”PersonAdrin Nazarian“Council member who opposed the veto”OrganizationMotorola Solutions“Company that provides ALPR technology to the department”PersonTraci Park“Council member who opposed the veto and argued the technology helps safety”OrganizationUbicquia Inc.“Subcontractor that would install the cameras on street lights”OrganizationAxon Enterprise“Contractor providing ALPR technology and equipment”PersonHugo Soto-Martinez“Councilman who sought to send back the pilot program for further review”PersonJohn Lee“Councilman who opposed the veto and advocated for the pilot”OrganizationLos Angeles City Council“Governing body that voted on the pilot program”PersonRandy Goddard“LAPD Commander and assistant commanding officer of the Information Technology Bu”PersonEunisses Hernandez“Councilwoman who criticized colleagues for moving forward with the program”PersonMonica Rodriguez“Council member who opposed the veto”