In 2015, Democratic Elk Grove Assemblyman Jim Cooper voted for Senate Bill 34, which restricted law enforcement from sharing automated license plate reader (ALPR) data with out-of-state authorities. In 2023, now-Sacramento County Sheriff Cooper appears to be doing just that.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) a digital rights group, has sent Cooper a letter requesting that the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office cease sharing ALPR data with out-of-state agencies that could use it to prosecute someone for seeking an abortion.

According to documents that the Sheriff’s Office provided EFF through a public records request, it has shared license plate reader data with law enforcement agencies in states that have passed laws banning abortion, including Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas.

Adam Schwartz, EFF senior staff attorney, called automated license plate readers “a growing threat to everyone’s privacy … that are out there by the thousands in California.”

  •  admiralteal   ( @admiralteal@kbin.social ) 
    1•1 year ago

    My city is chock full of these readers and as far as I can tell, all they do is reduce law enforcement activity.

    Now, if a vehicle is stolen, they’ll put out a BOLO and check the cameras. Doesn’t show up on scanners? Man, that sucks, here’s your case number. Do you have CCTV footage of the thieves clearly showing their faces for several minutes during the theft? They won’t even reply to emails/calls to give it a proforma look, much less actually investigating the crime.

    Good thing I had a good comprehensive policy.

    I’d LOVE to see stats on how jurisdictions actually use this technology to do law enforcement activity. How many cases does it assist in closing per dollar spent? I am extraordinarily skeptical that they actually work for the stated purposes.