Oxnard police have suspended use of their automated license plate readers (ALPRs) while other Ventura-area law enforcement agencies tighten oversight and consider alternatives after a vendor error allowed out-of-state agencies to query local data in potential violation of California law.
The moves follow internal audits and public disclosures by the Ventura Police Department, Oxnard Police Department and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office detailing how Flock Safety’s “National Lookup” feature was enabled without authorization in 2025, allowing agencies outside California—and in some cases federal agencies—to include local data in their searches.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the state and the U.S. have also made announcements in recent months suspending their use of Flock Safety…