Bay Area drivers could soon face tighter rules on the invisible trail their cars leave behind, as California lawmakers weigh new limits on automated license plate readers. The proposal would restrict how police agencies store, search and share plate data while preserving access for active investigations and missing-person searches.
The debate is unfolding as ALPR systems spread across California. A report by Times of San Diego says at least 230 police and sheriffs’ departments use the technology statewide, while Berkeley operates a 52-camera network. The systems read plates and compare them with law-enforcement databases for vehicles of interest, turning ordinary commutes into searchable records.
What SB 1013 Would Change
Senate Bill 1013, authored by Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, would require new or amended ALPR vendor contracts beginning January 1, 2027, to block default access to national databases and prevent automatic access by other agencies. The measure would also require public privacy policies, employee training, logged searches tied to case file numbers and a 30-day limit on routine data retention, with exceptions for active investigations, criminal proceedings and authorized hot lists, according to California Legislative Information.
As of Monday, the proposal remains alive in Sacramento. Times of San Diego reports that SB 1013 is pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday. That hearing will be the bill’s next formal test.
Berkeley Police Point To Stolen-Car Recoveries
Berkeley police are making the public-safety case with their own numbers. In a proposed city budget document, the department says its 2025 ALPR network generated 621 stolen-vehicle alerts and 78 felony-vehicle alerts, contributed to at least 37 stolen-vehicle recoveries, played a role in 58 arrests and supported 121 cases, according to the City of Berkeley…