The Albany Police Department (APD) uses automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras to capture objective vehicle evidence on public roads and to provide investigative leads that help solve crimes and locate at-risk people (e.g., via Amber Alerts). These cameras capture images of the rear of passing vehicles, read the license plate, record the time/location, and identify basic vehicle attributes (color, type, make) to create searchable leads for authorized officers. They do not record names, faces, or other personal identifiers, and they do not use facial recognition.
Quick Facts
- Retention: 30 days (auto-deleted thereafter unless preserved for a case)
- Cameras: APD’s transparency portal lists our four (4) cameras and recent usage metrics (unique vehicles detected, searches, hotlist hits).
- Sharing: APD currently shares with a limited set of Oregon law enforcement partners to support regional investigations; partners are listed on the portal.
- Prohibited uses: Immigration enforcement, traffic enforcement, or any use targeting a protected class; personal use is prohibited.
Flock Safety Transparency Portal
APD’s public Flock Safety Transparency Portal shows our guardrails (acceptable use, prohibited uses), 30-day retention, audit requirements, sharing relationships, and usage statistics.
Flock Safety - Albany Transparency Portal
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Concerns & Straight Answers
“Does ALPR track me everywhere I go?”
No. ALPR captures a single snapshot when your vehicle passes a camera; it does not track continuous movement. Non‑evidentiary images are deleted after retention.
“Is my personal information stored?”
No PII (name, address, SSN) is collected by the ALPR system. Officers access DMV/LEDS data separately—and only for official purposes—and those accesses are audited per state law/policy.
“Can private entities access APD’s data?”
No. Private customers cannot access law‑enforcement data. APD controls sharing; it is not open to private parties.
“Will APD use ALPR for speed or red‑light citations?”
No. APD’s ALPR is not used for traffic enforcement; potential photo‑enforcement programs are separate systems, with distinct policies and officer review.
“What about ICE access?”
APD’s policies prohibit immigration enforcement use and will align with Oregon’s sanctuary/shield laws and any statewide ALPR restrictions adopted by the Legislature.
Why is APD using ALPR?
- Crime reduction & case clearance. ALPR helps identify stolen vehicles, wanted subjects, and vehicles linked to serious crimes; agencies report improved investigative efficiency and higher recovery rates when ALPR is deployed.
- Alerts for endangered persons. Cameras can notify officers when a plate is associated with NCIC or Amber Alerts, aiding rapid response.
- Objective, point-in-time evidence. Devices capture a single moment as a vehicle passes; they do not continuously track a driver’s movements.
What exactly do these cameras collect?
- A contextual photo of the rear of the vehicle (including license plate)
- Time, date, and GPS coordinates of the capture
- Vehicle attributes (e.g., make, color, type; unique features like damage)
- No facial recognition, no people analytics, no names/addresses, no audio. These data points are used to generate investigative leads; personally identifiable information (PII) is not collected by the system itself.
Where are cameras located?
Devices are installed along public roadways where APD expects the highest public safety impact. Installations emphasize high retail theft areas and are sited to avoid views into private spaces.
How long does APD keep ALPR data?
APD retains ALPR data for 30 days by default, after which it is permanently deleted (“hard deleted”) unless legally preserved for an investigation or as otherwise required by law/policy.
Who owns the data? Do the companies sell it?
APD owns 100% of its data. The vendors do not sell customer data and only accesses it to provide service or with customer authorization per contract and policy. Data sharing is controlled by APD and may be limited to specific in-state partner agencies; all sharing is opt-in and visible on the transparency portal.
Who can access APD’s ALPR data?
Access is limited to authorized APD personnel for official law enforcement purposes. Every search requires a reason code and is logged and auditable. APD may choose to share camera access with nearby in state agencies to improve regional investigations; any sharing is listed on the public portal.
What uses are prohibited?
APD prohibits:
- Immigration enforcement and any use that conflicts with Oregon’s sanctuary/shield laws (e.g., tracking protected healthcare access).
- Traffic or parking enforcement via ALPR (e.g., speed enforcement, red light citations).
- Harassment, profiling, or searches based solely on protected classes (race, religion, gender, etc.).
- Personal use or data sharing outside APD’s policy and agreements.
Note: Oregon lawmakers are actively discussing statewide guardrails for ALPR (data retention, sharing, penalties for misuse). APD will align with any new statutory requirements once enacted.
Do these vendors enable facial recognition or live video monitoring?
No. Our ALPR does not perform facial recognition and captures still images for vehicle/plate analysis; it is not a continuous live stream video system.
What about data security?
The vendors encrypt data in transit and at rest and use industry-standard cloud protections. Devices upload images securely, and local storage on the device is temporary until the upload completes.
How are 'hits' verified?
ALPR alerts occur when a captured plate matches a trusted hotlist (e.g., stolen vehicle, NCIC entry). Human verification is required prior to enforcement action to ensure data accuracy and context.
What auditing and accountability measures are in place?
- Reason codes & audit trails for every search
- Quarterly audits of usage and access
- Public transparency portal with retention period, sharing partners, and recent usage statistics
- Ability to produce self-certifying image verification affidavits for court within the retention window, with legal request processes handled by the vendor's evidence team as needed.
How is privacy protected?
- Short retention (30 days) and auto deletion for non-evidentiary data
- No PII collected by the ALPR system; plate reads are government-issued identifiers legally visible on public roads
- Local control of sharing; APD can limit the sharing radius or agency access
- No “back door” access for federal agencies; APD decides if/when to collaborate consistent with state law and APD policy.
Is ALPR data subject to public records laws?
Public records rules vary by state. In some jurisdictions, courts have held that ALPR images generated for governmental purposes can be public records, subject to applicable exemptions and privacy protections. APD will handle requests consistent with Oregon public records law and any forthcoming ALPR-specific legislation or city policy.
How can community members learn more or provide input?
- Visit APD’s Flock Safety Transparency Portal for current policies, retention, sharing partners, and usage statistics.
- Read Flock Safety’s Privacy & Ethics overview to understand platform guardrails and common misconceptions.
- Provide APD with questions or feedback via our online reporting portal.
- Follow Oregon legislative updates on ALPR to see emerging statewide standards.
Governance & Policy Alignment
APD’s use of ALPR is governed by departmental policy, contract controls, and system guardrails. We also monitor Oregon legislative efforts regarding ALPR to ensure our practices remain compliant, transparent, and community-informed.
Contact
For questions, feedback, or public records requests related to ALPR, please contact the Albany Police Department or visit our Flock Safety Transparency Portal.
