HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 1013 (Cervantes) - Automatic License Plate Readers - City of SLO - OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDEDCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114,
slocity.org
June 18, 2026
The Honorable Sabrina Cervantes
Member, California State Senate
1021 O Street, Suite 7330
Sacramento, California 95814
RE: SB 1013 (Cervantes) Automated License Plate Recognition Systems
Notice of OPPOSE UNLESS AMEND (As Amended 6/15/26)
Dear Senator Cervantes:
The City of San Luis Obispo regretfully must take a position of Oppose Unless Amended on SB 1013.
This measure would limit law enforcement’s ability to utilize automated license plate recognition
(ALPR) data to solve crimes. Specifically, the bill would require a public agency to delete all ALPR
information that has been held for more than 30 days, unless it is retained in the evidence file of an
active investigation or criminal proceeding or matches information on an authorized hot list.
ALPR is an important public safety tool that assists law enforcement agencies in identifying stolen
vehicles, locating suspects, recovering missing persons, and investigating serious crimes.
Communities throughout California, including San Luis Obispo, increasingly rely on technology-driven
solutions to address both local and regional criminal activity. ALPR systems have proven valuable in
combating organized retail theft, vehicle theft, property crimes, and crimes committed by offenders
traveling between jurisdictions.
SB 1013’s limit on the amount of time an agency can retain ALPR data would create significant
challenges for criminal investigations. While the City could support reasonable limitations on data
retention, a 30-day retention period is insufficient for many investigations. Crimes are often not
reported immediately, particularly offenses involving sexual assault, domestic violence, human
trafficking, elder abuse, and complex property crimes. In these cases, victims or witnesses may come
forward weeks or months after an incident occurs, making historical ALPR data critical for identifying
suspects, establishing investigative leads, or corroborating evidence.
For the City of San Luis Obispo, this issue is particularly important because our community serves as
a regional center for commerce, tourism, higher education, and transportation along California’s
Central Coast. The City experiences substantial visitor traffic throughout the year and routinely works
in partnership with neighboring jurisdictions and regional law enforcement agencies to investigate
crimes that cross city and county boundaries. Investigations involving organized theft rings, serial
offenders, vehicle-related crimes, and suspects traveling along the U.S. Highway 101 corridor often
require access to historical vehicle-location data extending well beyond 30 days. A rigid retention
requirement would eliminate potentially valuable evidence before investigators even become aware
of a crime.
The City is also concerned with provisions that would centralize authority over ALPR data-sharing
decisions within the California Department of Justice. Law enforcement agencies routinely rely on
existing interagency agreements to exchange information efficiently during active investigations.
Requiring DOJ review or approval of routine data-sharing arrangements could create significant
delays, impede collaboration among neighboring jurisdictions, and reduce agencies' ability to
respond to time-sensitive public safety threats. While the City supports clear statewide standards
governing the use and sharing of ALPR information, local agencies should retain the ability to enter
lawful data-sharing agreements without unnecessary administrative barriers.
The City of San Luis Obispo supports accountability, transparency, and appropriate safeguards
regarding law enforcement technologies. However, we do not support policies that unnecessarily
restrict law enforcement agencies from utilizing tools that enhance their ability to prevent crime,
solve cases, and protect the public. The City of San Luis Obispo supports the amendments proposed
by the California Police Chiefs Association, which would better balance privacy considerations with
legitimate public safety needs.
For these reasons, the City of San Luis Obispo regretfully must take a position of Oppose Unless
Amended on SB 1013.
Sincerely,
City of San Luis Obispo
cc: California Police Chiefs Association
Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council
Senator John Laird
Assemblymember Dawn Addis
Dave Mullinax, League of California Cities
League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org