Rules Committee backs ALPR policy changes to accept $15.3M state grant and expand vendor options

The Rules Committee unanimously recommended Nov. 27 that the Board of Supervisors approve amendments to the SFPD's surveillance technology policy governing automated license plate readers (ALPR). The changes would permit equipment and vendors beyond those specified in the current policy and allow non-operational funding sources, enabling the city to accept a $15,300,000 state grant to procure roughly 400 ALPR cameras.

Chief Bill Scott told the committee ALPR systems capture computer-readable images of license plates and vehicle information to match vehicles against databases of stolen or suspect vehicles. He said ALPRs can provide actionable leads in cases involving organized retail theft, auto burglary, catalytic converter theft and other crimes that frequently involve vehicles, arguing the technology can act as a "force multiplier" given SFPD's staffing shortfalls.

The proposed amendments would (1) remove single-vendor constraints in the policy language to allow competitive procurement, (2) permit additional funding sources such as state grant funding to be used for ALPR acquisition and maintenance, and (3) expand allowable data formats as the technology evolves. Chief Scott and staff emphasized that the policy falls under Administrative Code Article 19B and that review steps already included PSAB and COIT oversight, data-retention and access restrictions, and contract clauses to ensure vendors meet law-enforcement data safeguards.

Supervisors asked about whether ALPR reads all plates (yes, but only plates flagged in system generate alerts), vendor access to data, storage locations (local departmental storage and vendor-managed options), and why Board action was required; Deputy City Attorney Anne Pearson said Article 19B requires board review for these internal policies. The Mayor's office confirmed it requested and received a waiver of the usual 30-day hold on the associated "accept and expend" ordinance so the city could proceed more quickly if the Board approves.

Public commenters, including the Police Officers Association and business and resident advocates, urged the committee to move quickly to accept the grant. A number of speakers blamed alleged policy decisions years earlier for staffing or equipment shortfalls; Vice Chair Walton corrected one public claim on the record, saying a $120 million cut to the police budget "was never taken." Chair Matt Dorsey moved to send the policy amendments and related ordinances to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the motion passed 3-0.

The Committee's approval advances both the Article 19B policy amendment and a separate "accept and expend" ordinance for the grant; the Mayor's office said the accept-and-expand ordinance was tentatively scheduled for Dec. 6 and will require two readings.