We have done FOIA Requests to multiple police departments about ALPR cameras. You can see the results here: 
MuckRock Omar Solis (bayareaprivacy)
This is the template of the requests we have done:
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
We request the following records related to Automated License Plate Readers ("ALPRs") and your law enforcement agency ("Agency").
Part A - Information related to ALPR data sharing.
A1. The names of agencies and organizations with which the Agency shared ALPR data in 2025;
A2. The names of agencies and organizations from which the Agency received ALPR data in 2025;
A3. The names of agencies and organizations with which the Agency shares “hot list” information in 2025;
A4. The names of agencies and organizations from which the Agency receives “hot list” information in 2025.
The information requested in items A1-A4 is readily available for extraction through the ALPR software you use. For example, with Vigilant Solutions/Motorola Solutions, this data can be exported easily using the Data Sharing Report function. With Flock Safety, this information is available through the transparency portal function.
Most agencies have encountered little difficulty in providing this information (see below). In a small number of cases, an agency has interpreted items A1-A4 as requesting the creation of a record that does not exist. We disagree: this data is maintained by your software, can be exported through software your agency has already purchased, and is therefore subject to CPRA.
However, should you disagree, you may alternatively produce the following records:
A5. All agreements, memoranda of understanding, requests, or other certifying documents that external agencies have signed to comply with Sec 1798.90.52(b) for accessing your agency's ALPR data. These documents are also often required under the "Releasing ALPR Data" subsection of a California law enforcement agency's SB 34 policy.
A6. All agreements, memoranda of understanding, requests, or other certifying documents that your agency has signed pursuant to Sec 1798.90.52(b) to access other agencies' ALPR data.
A7. All "records of access" required by Sec. 1798.90.52(a) for the periods June 5th, 2024 until the date of processing this request.
Items A5-A7 are not necessary if your agency provides the information requested in items A1-A4. We feel that items A1-A4 are more focused and would require less labor from your agency to produce.
Part B - Information Related to Numbers of “Detections” (plate scans) and “Hits” (plate scans that matched to a hotlist)
B1. The aggregate number of "detections" collected during 2025.
B2. The aggregate number of “hits” during 2025.
B3. The aggregate number of "detections" from June 5th, 2024 until the date this request is processed. If your agency has a retention period shorter than 1 year, please provide whatever data is available based on your retention period. For example, most Flock Safety systems may not have this data beyond 30 days.
B4. The aggregate number of “hits” from June 5th, 2024 until the date this request is processed. If your agency has a retention period shorter than 1 year, please provide whatever data is available based on your retention period.
B5. Average Daily Scans based on the past amount of days in which you retain data.
The information requested in items B1-B4 is readily available through the ALPR software you use. For example, with Vigilant Solutions/Motorola Solutions, this data can be exported easily using the Hit Ratio Report function. With Flock Safety, this information is available through the transparency portal function. As noted above, this information exists within your system and can be easily exported with existing software.
Part C - Assistance, Description, and Recommendations.
We make the following requests under section 6253.1 of the California Public Records Act
C1. A description of the information technology and physical location in which the records exist.
C2. Assist us identifying records and information that will help the public understand how ALPR data and hotlists are shared, how much data is collected year-to-year, and how much of that data matches a hot list; and
C3. Provide suggestions for overcoming any practical basis for denying access to the information sought.
Please note that more than 80 California law enforcement agencies have provided the information requested in Parts A1-A4 and B1-B4 in previous years. For your reference we have included a PDF below with the names of the agencies that have historically provided these records.
(This URL links to a dataset with links to the records: https://www.eff.org/document/data-driven-2-california-dragnet-data-set)
Part D - Information Related to New Changes
D1. Flock Safety has announced that they are building a product called Flock Nova, which combines information from agencies into one place, such as “Unify CAD, RMS, video, LPR, and public records.” It is mentioned in this article (https://www.404media.co/license-plate-reader-company-flock-is-building-a-massive-people-lookup-tool-leak-shows/) that the tool is being used by some law enforcement agencies in an early access program (https://www.flocksafety.com/devices/flock-nova#:~:text=Flock%20Nova%20Early%20Access%20Now%20Open). Is/was your Agency part of, invited to, or booked a demo for the early access program? Is/has your Agency utilized Flock Nova? If yes, have you used the tool in any police investigations?
D2. Please send a document of the most up-to-date ALPR policy that your Agency uses.
Part E – Information Related to ALPR Camera Locations
E1. The location (address, intersection, coordinates, or nearest landmark) of each ALPR camera operated, maintained, or accessed by the Agency as of the date of this request.
E2. If your agency uses mobile ALPR cameras (e.g., on patrol cars), please indicate how many mobile units are currently deployed, and describe any policies that govern how locations of scans from mobile units are logged or stored.
E3. If exact addresses or coordinates are withheld, please provide general placement descriptions (e.g., "fixed camera at Main St & 2nd Ave," or "mobile ALPR unit assigned to Northern District patrol vehicle").
This information is typically accessible within ALPR system management software. For example:
- In Flock Safety camera location information is visible through the camera dashboard and deployment maps.
- In Vigilant/Motorola, camera locations are often listed in the device management or configuration settings.
Part F - ALPR Vendor Contracts and Purchase Agreements
F1. All contracts, purchase orders, service agreements, statements of work, or memoranda of understanding between the Agency and any vendor of ALPR technology (including Flock Safety, Vigilant Solutions/Motorola, etc.) in effect during January 1, 2024–June 5, 2025.
F2. All invoices, receipts, and payment records related to the purchase, installation, operation, or maintenance of ALPR systems during January 1, 2024–June 5, 2025.
F3. Any grant applications or grant award documents (e.g., from DHS, DOJ, or private foundations) that funded or supported the acquisition or expansion of ALPR systems.
Part G – Internal Communications and Rationale for Placement
G1. Any internal memos, emails, reports, or presentations from 2022–2025 discussing where ALPR cameras should be placed or were ultimately placed. This includes communications from officers, command staff, city officials, or vendor representatives regarding:
- Placement location recommendations
- Crime statistics or justifications used to determine placement
- Community concerns or opposition
- Equity or privacy impacts
- “High crime” area designations or related targeting rationale
G2. Any communications with Flock Safety, Vigilant Solutions, or other ALPR vendors from 2022–2025 regarding camera placement, pilot programs, early access programs, or system expansion.
CPRA requires you to undertake reasonable efforts to locate responsive records and to work in good faith with requesters to respond to their request. See CYAC v. City of National City, 220 Cal.App.4th 1385, 1430 (2013). Thus under the CPRA you are obligated to conduct a reasonable search and cannot deny a request merely because it might generate a large volume of records.
We ask that you please respond to this request within 10 days either by providing all the requested records or by providing a written response setting forth the legal authority on which you rely in withholding or redacting any document, as well as stating when documents will be made available. Should you choose to withhold or reject this request, we ask that you provide an explanation of why your agency is responding differently compared to the many others that have complied with our request.
Part H – ALPR Audit Logs & Access Records (More Detail)
H1. A list of all ALPR database users employed by the Agency between June 5, 2024 and the present, including job titles, divisions, and access levels. If your agency has a retention period shorter than 1 year, please provide whatever data is available based on your retention period.
H2. Audit logs showing ALPR database access by Agency personnel from June 5, 2024 to the present. If your agency has a retention period shorter than 1 year, please provide whatever data is available based on your retention period. Please include:
1. Organization Audit in Flock.
The report should include data logged from the date above, to the date this request is processed. Per Flock's documentation, the Organization Audit is available within the Insights tab and is defined as searches done within the agency.
- Date and time of access
- Name and Job Title of User
- Search parameters (e.g., plate number or geographic query)
- Stated reason for access, if logged
2. Network Audit in Flock.
The report should include data logged from the period from the date above, to the date this request is processed. Per Flock's documentation, the Network Audit is available within the Insights tab and is defined as searches of the organization’s Flock network by any agency in the Flock System.
These logs are required under California Civil Code § 1798.90.52(a) and can help determine how often ALPR data is being queried and by whom. These records have been disclosed by several agencies in prior CPRA requests.
If the records responsive to any part of this request are held by another department, division, or city office (such as the Mayor’s Office, Department of Technology, SFMTA, or a surveillance oversight board), please identify the appropriate custodian or refer this request accordingly, as required under Government Code § 6253.1.
In particular, if your agency does not maintain records related to:
- The policy rationale or decision-making process for camera placement
- Contracts or procurement related to ALPR vendors
- Surveillance technology policy
Please inform me which department or office may hold these records.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.