The Rocklin Police Department currently utilizes five automated license plate readers (ALPR), and intends to add an additional 32 ALPR cameras to cover all of the ingress and egress locations in the City. ALPR systems include cameras that can be placed in fixed locations throughout the City. The cameras scan the license plate numbers of passing vehicles and automatically checks them against a regional and national database to determine if the associated vehicles are stolen, have been used in a felony crime, identify stolen plates, missing persons, people at risk, or for any other reasons that a license plate has been flagged by law enforcement. The cameras also retain images of license plates, including the time, date and location of where the vehicle passed through. If a crime, missing person, hit and run collision or other significant incident is reported later, police staff can research the database for clues about possible related vehicles. This system also alerts law enforcement, in real time, if and when these vehicles pass through an area. With the use of multiple cameras, law enforcement is able to track the movement of these vehicles throughout the City to assist patrol units in locating them.
ALPR systems are used to enhance the enforcement and investigative capabilities, expand law enforcement’s ability to analyze relevant data, and expediate the criminal investigative process of comparing vehicle license plates with lists of stolen, wanted, and other vehicles of interest. ALPR technology has been deployed in the City since 2019 and throughout the nation for even longer. Local municipalities such as Roseville, Lincoln, Auburn, and the Counties of Placer and Sacramento are also utilizing this technology. With this, local agencies are able to communicate with each other to coordinate a response to search for and locate these vehicles.
Rocklin Municipal Code section 3.04.090(B) authorizes the City to award a contract without competition when the City determines in writing, after a good fair review of available resources, that there is only one source for the required goods. The Flock Group Inc. (Flock) ALPR cameras and devices are the only Law Enforcement Grade ALPR System to offer the following combination of proprietary features: Vehicle Fingerprint Technology, Integrated Cloud-Software & Hardware Platform, Transparency & Ethical Product Design, Integrated Audio & Gunshot Detection, and Live Video Integration. Flock is also utilized by neighboring jurisdictions and allows shared information.
Staff recommends the City Council enter into a two-year Services Agreement with the Flock Group Inc. to lease 32 Automated License Plate Reader Cameras. The cameras will be installed and serviced by Flock.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION:
Prior to implementing an ALPR program, California Civil Code section 1798.90.55 requires the City to provide an opportunity for public comment at regularly scheduled City Council meeting. When the Rocklin Police Department originally implemented its program in 2019, an opportunity was given for public comment at a City Council meeting. There were no concerns raised by comments during this meeting. The Rocklin Police Department will continue to implement community outreach on the use of ALPR’s by spreading awareness via several social media outlets and by holding neighborhood meetings if necessary.