Pasadena Police Could Use Grant Funds For More License Plate Readers

Pasadena police could use $601,705 in scheduled grant funds for anti-vehicle barriers, automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) and an infrared camera system for a helicopter.

The money would come from an Urban Area Security Initiative grant.

The City is set to receive $716,705 as part of a nationwide program to improve and enhance emergency response capability for terrorist related activity.

Local residents have railed against ALPRs in the past.

In 2015 state lawmakers increased privacy protections for drivers and established strict rules including who has access to the information collected by automatic license plate readers and how police can use it.

But in 2020, the state auditor revealed that a review of ALPR policies in the Los Angeles, Fresno, Marin and Sacramento police departments revealed some troublesome results.

Many of the agencies reviewed either did not have ALPR policies or their policies were deficient, and they had not implemented sufficient safeguards. None of the agencies had audited searches of the ALPR images by their staff and thus had no assurance that the searches were appropriate.

Furthermore, three of the four agencies have shared their ALPR images widely, without considering whether the entities receiving them have a right to and need for the images.”

As part of the grant, the Fire Department also will receive $1 million for Search and Rescue Equipment and training. The Public Health Department will receive $15,000 for a consultant to help in developing a BioWatch Exercise.

The Fire Department is the administrator of UASI grant funds.