Public Safety

Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR Cameras)

The City of La Canada Flintridge, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), has implemented use of mobile Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology as an additional measure to provide community safety and security in an effort to thwart criminals who visit our community.   Mobile ALPR technology uses high-speed cameras mounted upon a LASD patrol vehicle that automatically captures images of every passing vehicle’s license plate within its immediate vicinity.  The system reads the license plate’s number from the image using “character recognition software,” and immediately checks the plate number against a list of plates associated with suspected crimes (also called a “hot list”) to determine whether the vehicle may be stolen or associated with another crime, an AMBER alert, or an outstanding warrant.  If the license plate number matches a number on the hot list, the system notifies deputies in the field and/or the central dispatch unit.

Use of ALPR Cameras

Under the usage policy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, ALPR technology is only used/accessible for the following public safety purposes:

· Investigation for prosecution or exoneration of suspected criminal (including terrorist) incidents;

· Identification and/or location of wanted persons;

· Enforcement of sanctions, orders, or sentences;

· Crime prevention/general law enforcement purposes;

· Crime analysis;

· Investigatory leads in subsequent investigations.

Flock Public Safety Cameras

In 2020, the City of La Canada Flintridge, in a continuing effort to better protect our community, will be implementing the use of Flock Public Safety cameras with integrated Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology.  The City Council authorized a total of 39 Flock Public Safety cameras, which include ALPR technology.  The intent is to place these fixed cameras at entry/exit points to the City and certain key tracking points throughout the community.  Focusing on the City’s entry/exit points and likely intersections affords the greatest likelihood of capturing images of suspects, their vehicles, and their license plates and their direction of travel.  Additionally, the deployment strategy at entry/exit points will afford Sheriff’s Department personnel the best opportunity to prevent crime from occurring, by notifying law enforcement of known offenders potentially looking to victimize our community.

Flock “Safe List” and Registration Options

In partnership with Flock Safety, the City offers the ability to either register your vehicle(s) into the system or to “Safe List” your vehicle(s), as follows:

1) Flock Vehicle Registration Option:   You may register your vehicle(s) so that it appears/is marked as “resident” in any future searches by law enforcement.  This is accomplished by completing a one-time form online using the link below.

2) Safe List Registration Option: You can register your vehicles(s) so that it is completely removed from ever being captured in any Flock camera footage at all.   This process is also completed using the license plate(s) of the vehicle(s) you would like to remove from being captured by Flock.

To Register your Vehicle(s) as “Resident” or to Safe List your vehicle please use the Online Form found here