US Cities Host Forums on License Plate Reader Technology
Law enforcement agencies in Tulsa and Sonoma County will hold community transparency sessions on October 19 to discuss automated license plate reader technology and privacy concerns.
Local governments in Oklahoma and California are holding public sessions on October 19 to address the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. In Tulsa, the Tulsa Police Department will host a transparency session from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to explain how the technology functions. The department is requesting that attendees submit questions in advance for a panel to answer, though a specific location for the meeting has not been announced.
Simultaneously, the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights will hold a community forum at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. This event addresses public concern over mass surveillance and data misuse, while law enforcement officials maintain the tools are essential for solving violent crimes and finding missing persons. The forum will feature a panel including Sonoma County Sheriff Eddie Engram, Santa Rosa Police Chief John Cregan, and Rohnert Park Director of Safety Rick Navarro.
The Sonoma County commission intends to use the forum's outcomes to develop formal recommendations for the Board of Supervisors and other local jurisdictions. Vice Chair Cecilia Sofranko noted the importance of maintaining a balance of perspectives during the discussion.
