The Santa Clarita Valley City Council has unanimously approved a $500,000 contract with Flock Safety for a multiyear system of license plate-reading cameras. The technology aims to enhance public safety by providing real-time data on vehicle movements and identifying potential crime hotspots.
The cameras will be strategically placed across the city, using artificial intelligence to capture images and store them for 30 days before being deleted. Data from the cameras can be shared with law enforcement agencies that have reciprocal agreements, but not with private organizations.
City Councilman Jason Gibbs expressed concerns about data security and storage during the discussion. Captain Justin Diez reassured him that access to sensitive information is triggered by “hits” – when a camera detects a stolen car or vehicle related to an ongoing investigation.
The cameras will allow patrol deputies to scan license plates without a cause, but these checks are limited to specific time slots between calls and regular duties. Captain Diez emphasized the potential benefits of this technology, saying it can help reduce human error in identifying suspects and locating missing individuals.
Source: https://signalscv.com/2024/11/city-oks-contract-to-help-lasd-with-license-plate-readers