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' Twin Falls PD Policy Manual
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs)
401.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Agency Content
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, also known as License Plate Recognition,
provides automated detection of license plates. ALPRs are used by the Twin Falls Police
Department to capture data associated with vehicle license plates for official law enforcement
purposes, including identifying stolen or wanted vehicles, stolen license plates and missing
persons. ALPRs may also be used to gather information related to active warrants, suspect
interdiction and stolen property recovery.
401.2 DEFINITIONS
Agency Content
(a) ALPR-Equipment consisting of cameras and computer software used to automatically
recognize and interpret characters on vehicle license plates and capture digital
images.
(b) Alert - An indication by visual and/or auditory notice of a potential match between
data stored and a license plate scanned by the system. An alert is not conclusive
confirmation of a match and further investigation is always required before taking
enforcement action.
(c) Digital Evidence Management Software - A Criminal Justice Information System
(CJIS) compliant system for user maintenance, date queries, import and export of
data, and notification functions of the central repository of data collected by the
ALPR system. This application can be accessed and reviewed for investigative and
administrative purposes by authorized users.
401.3 ADMINISTRATION OF ALPR DATA
Agency Content
All installation and maintenance of ALPR equipment, as well as ALPR data retention and access,
shall be managed by the department Flock Administrator(s), who can assign personnel under his/
her command to administer the day-to-day operations.
401.4 ALPR OPERATIONS
Agency Content
Use of an ALPR is restricted to the purposes outlined below. Department personnel shall not use,
or allow others to use, the equipment or database records for any unauthorized purpose.
(a) No member of this department shall operate ALPR equipment, or access ALPR data,
without first completing department-approved training.
(b) No ALPR operator may access the Idaho Law Enforcement Telecommunications
System (ILETS) data unless otherwise authorized to do so.
Copyright Lexipol,LLc 2024/09/04,All Rights Reserved. Automated License Plate Readers(ALPRs)- 1
Published with permission by Twin Falls Police Department
Twin Falls Police Department
Twin Falls PD Policy Manual
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs)
(c) An ALPR may be used in conjunction with any routine patrol operation or official
department investigations.
(d) An ALPR shall only be used for official and legitimate law enforcement business.
(e) Upon receiving an alert, and prior to initiating a traffic stop, the ALPR operator shall
utilize all information available to determine the accuracy of the alert. A receipt of an
alert is not sufficient probable cause to initiate a stop without verification.
(f) Users shall not create a Custom Hot List without supervisory approval.
(g) Users conducting field operations, and equipped with an MDC, shall login to the Flock
interface at the beginning of their shift and keep the application open.
401.5 ALPR DATA COLLECTION AND RETENTION
Agency Content
All data and images gathered by an ALPR are for the official use of the Twin Falls Police
Department. Because such data may contain confidential ILETS information, it is not open to public
review. ALPR information gathered and retained by this department may be used and shared with
prosecutors or others only as permitted by law.
All ALPR data will be stored in accordance with applicable City retention schedules, which has
been identified as thirty (30) days. Thereafter, ALPR data will be purged unless it has become,
or it is reasonable to believe it will become, evidence in a criminal or civil action or is subject to
a lawful action or order to produce records.
All ALPR data is used for law enforcement purposes only. Data is agency-owed and is never sold
to 3rd parties.
401.6 WHAT IS DETECTED
Agency Content
License plate image, vehicle image, plate text, date, time and location.
401.7 WHAT IS NOT DETECTED
Agency Content
Facial images, people, gender, or race.
401.8 PROHIBITED USES
Agency Content
ALPR shall not be used for harassment, intimidation, usage based solely on a protected class
(race, sex, religion, etc), or personal use.
401.9 ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFEGUARDS
Agency Content
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Published with permission by Twin Falls Police Department
Twin Falls Police Department
Twin Falls PD Policy Manual
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs)
All saved data will be closely safeguarded and protected by both procedural and technological
means. The Twin Falls Police Department will observe the following safeguards regarding access
to and use of stored data:
(a) All non-law enforcement requests for access to stored ALPR data shall be referred to
the Records Supervisor and processed in accordance with applicable law.
(b) All ALPR data downloaded/uploaded to the mobile workstation and server, or
Evidence.com shall be accessible only through a login/password-protected system
capable of documenting all access of information by name, date, and time.
(c) Persons approved to access ALPR data under these guidelines are permitted to
access the data for legitimate law enforcement purposes only, such as when the data
relates to a specific official department investigation.
(d) Such ALPR data may be released to other authorized and verified law enforcement
officials and agencies only for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
(e) ALPR system audits should be conducted regularly by the department Flock
administrator to ensure compliance with this policy. The department Flock
Administrator will prepare a written report to the chief of police in December of each
year.
Copyright Lexipol,LLc 2024/09/04,All Rights Reserved. Automated License Plate Readers(ALPRs)-3
Published with permission by Twin Falls Police Department