Re:Please update Benicia's ALPR Policy
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--- page 1 --- 10/6/202512:52:42PM Sent: From: Lionel Largaespada <LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us To: Cc: Bcc: Importance: Normal Subject: Re:Please update Benicia's ALPR Policy Attachments image708784.png,image844796.png,image823414.png ,image668867.png,image399498.png,image439022.png ,image947336.png_,image819854.png,image707017.png image474703.png,ALPRpolicy2025.pdf Hi Thanksforthesequestions. TheBeniciaPoliceDepartment'sALPRPolicy(Policy47o)is attachedand availableontheCityofBenicia'swebsite here:https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/index.asp?SEC=68826789-63C6-4FAF-A4C2-04FB539FE803&DE=ED828606-AC77- 47E9-97AC-7546BDB48514. The policy covers all of the areas you've asked about. It authorizes ALPR technology only for reading and comparing license plates and does not permit any kind of predictive,biometric,orAl-based surveillance of people orbehavior(Sections470.1 and 470.4). It alsoprohibitssharingdatawithICEorCBPundertheCaliforniaValuesAct(Sections470.7and 470.9),requires supervisoryapprovalandwrittendocumentationforanyotherdatasharing(470.9),mandatesquarterlyauditsby the Services Lieutenant orthe Chief's designee (470.8), and makes the policy publicly available with penalties for misuse (470.3.1and 470.4). The Council receives regular updates from the Chief, and the City Manager and Chief set the timing for when audit Iappreciateyour advocacyand thetimeyou'vetakentoreviewthepolicy.TheCity'sALPRpolicy alreadyincludesthe safeguards you've asked about, and I'm confident it will continue to strike the right balance between privacy, accountability,and publicsafety. Sincerely, Lionel Lionel Largaespada Council Member ElectedOfficial O: 707-746-4213|C: 415-377-XXXX LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us THE BENICIA www.ci.benicia.ca.us City Hall is closed on alternatingFridays.Learn more about closureshere.— page 2 — From Sent:Sunday,October5,202511:29AM To: Lionel Largaespada<LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us> Subject:Re:Please updateBenicia’sALPRPolicy Lionel, Caution:This email originated from outside of the organization.Do not click links or Thank you so open attachments unless you recognize thesender andknow the content is safe. muchforyour quick reply. I have a fewquestionsI hopeyou can answer. Does the existing ALPR policy have specific language written that “does not permit predictive or Alsurveillanceofpeopleorbehavior”? Please share the link to the ALPR Policy. Are the “quarterly audits of ALPR use”, including “results documented and reviewed by the Chief of Police”, made available for the Mayor and City Council members to review? Will these results be presented at a City Council meeting? Thankyou foryour time, On Fri, Oct 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM Lionel Largaespada <LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us> wrote: Hi Thank you for writing me with your concerns.I want to reassure you that our existing ALPR policy already addresseswhatyou’verequested. ThepolicyonlyauthorizesALPRtechnologytocapturelicenseplatesanddoesnotpermitpredictiveorAl surveillance of people or behavior.It explicitlyprohibits sharing data withICE and CBPunder the California Values law,theServicesLieutenantconducts quarterlyauditsofALPRuse,withresultsdocumented and reviewed bythe Chief of Police. The policy is posted publicly on the department’s website, and violations carry administrative, civil, orevencriminalpenalties. Thanks again for writing. The measures you suggested are already addressed under our existing policy. Sincerely, Lionel
— page 3 — Lionel Largaespada Council Member Elected Official O:707-746-4213|C:415-377-XXXX LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us THE BENICIA www.ci.benicia.ca.us City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays.Learnmore about closures here. From Sent:Friday,October3,202510:50AM To: SteveYoung<SYoung@ci.benicia.ca.us>;TrevorMacenski<TMacenski@ci.benicia.ca.us>;KariBirdseye <KBirdseye@ci.benicia.ca.us>; Lionel Largaespada<LLargaespada@ci.benicia.ca.us>; Terry Scott <TScott@ci.benicia.ca.us> Subject:PleaseupdateBenicia’sALPRPolicy Dear Mayor Caution:This email originated from outside of the organization.Do not click links or Young and open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Benicia City Council Members, I respectfully urge the Council to update Benicia’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Policy to ensure stronger community protections. Specifically, I ask that you consider amendments to:
- Prohibit the deployment of Al surveillance technologies in Benicia;
- Prevent the sharing of license plate data with federal agencies unless explicitly approved by the City Council;
- Strengthen and increase the transparency of system audits, including making audit results publiclyavailable;
- Require that updates to the ALPR policy include City Council approval. Thank you for your leadership and for your continued commitment to protecting the privacy andsafetyofBeniciaresidents.
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