Report 2019-118 Recommendation 26 Responses

Report 2019-118: Automated License Plate Readers: To Better Protect Individuals' Privacy, Law Enforcement Must Increase Its Safeguards for the Data It Collects (Release Date: February 2020)

Recommendation #26 To: Los Angeles Police Department

To enable auditing of user access to and user queries of ALPR images, by June 2021, Los Angeles should implement its audit plan and complete its first audit.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

On February 9, 2021, Los Angeles Police Department's Board of Police Commissioners approved the Annual Audit Plan that included an audit of the Automated License Plate Reader system.

The policy to be audited was approved on December 8, 2020. The audit period was set as January 1, 2021, to May 31, 2021. The audit was completed by September 30, 2021, however, on it was not approved by the Los Angeles Police Department's Board of Police Commissioners until September 27, 2022.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

Audit Division is in the process of conducting an ALPR audit. This audit began on February 16, 2021.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

1-Year Agency Response

Audit pending completion.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

As you know, the Los Angeles Police Department and the City of Los Angeles have faced multiple challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the protests and civic unrest following the death of George Floyd. These dual challenges have placed significant burdens on the Department's resources, and as a result of responding to these events, the Department has been delayed in adequately crafting an Automated License Plate Reader policy. The Department realizes the importance of finishing and implementing this policy, especially considering the statutory requirement and the State Auditor's report and recommendations. The Department's ALPR policy is being reviewed by external policy experts and the details are being finalized. We hope to present a completed policy to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners in the near future and will keep you apprised of our progress.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

We acknowledge the difficulty of the current situation with COVID-19. We look forward to the department's future status reports.

60-Day Agency Response

The Department has reviewed the State Auditor's Report and recommendations and we are in the process of drafting an ALPR usage and privacy policy. We aim to present a completed policy to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners in June 2020. However, due to the significant response required to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increase in our operational needs, please consider this our response to the Report's recommendations at this time. The Department understands the importance of drafting an ALPR policy in a timely manner and, even amid this ongoing pandemic, is striving to complete a policy that takes the many considerations into account.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We acknowledge the difficulty of the current situation with COVID-19. We look forward to the department's future status reports.

All Recommendations in 2019-118

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.