City of Redwood City Statement on Automated License Plate Reader Technology

Redwood City, California - Recent questions about the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology have raised concerns in communities across California. We want to reassure our residents that Redwood City considers public safety and privacy to be essential shared responsibilities.

The Redwood City Police Department's ALPR system operates under California law and established Department safeguards, including a 30-day retention period, controlled access, regular audits, and public transparency reporting.

Since becoming operational, this system has proven to be a valuable investigative tool, helping our officers enhance public safety by recovering stolen vehicles, locating missing persons, and identifying suspects in serious crimes. We remain committed to strong oversight and ongoing evaluation to ensure the technology is being used for its intended purpose.

The City's current agreement with Flock Safety, which provides Redwood City's fixed-location ALPR camera system, expires in September 2026. This timing uniquely positions the City to engage key stakeholders and gather feedback in advance of issuing a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to evaluate available vendors and technology options. Staff looks forward to engaging the Police Advisory Committee (PAC) as part of this process.

For more detailed information, please visit:

transparency.flocksafety.com/redwood-city-ca-pd

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About the City of Redwood City: The City of Redwood City is a San Francisco Bay Area community located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the technology-rich region extending from the San Francisco Peninsula to the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Redwood City is the third largest city within the County of San Mateo, with 85,992 residents. The city enjoys an average of 255 sunny days a year, which it boasts via the city slogan: "Climate Best by Government Test." Incorporated in 1867, Redwood City is home to the San Mateo County History Museum (located in the county's old courthouse) and the only active deep-water port within the south bay of San Francisco. The city's vibrant downtown, quickly becoming known as the entertainment hub of the San Francisco Peninsula, offers residents, visitors, and businesses a unique retail, entertainment, and restaurant experience.