Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) are in Morro Bay and have caused concern for some residents.
The city currently has 10 Motorola Solutions cameras, with one under repair, stationed around the city. They were approved back in January 2023 and cost $153,658.75 in Measure Q and E funds.
The ALPRs are motion activated to take pictures, and officials tell KSBY News that they are not constantly recording.
“What it provides is the vehicle plate number, the make and the model of the vehicle, and the color," said Amy Watkins, Morro Bay police chief.
Watkins said that information goes directly to their police department and not Motorola.
“It is accessible to the officers here at the Morro Bay Police Department, and then any agency that we have an MOU with to share that data and that is restricted to California law enforcement agencies only,” Watkins said.
Watkins said that they receive monthly audits on who accesses the information.
MBPD currently shares information with 81 agencies and cannot share with flock members through the program.
Motorola solutions is listed as a partner for flock cameras on their website. KSBY News reached out to Motorola on what this means but we have yet to receive a response.
Morro Bay resident Michelle Howard-Leiceter says she has concerns about these cameras.
“We’re entitled to move freely," Howard-Leiceter said. "Why should the city watching our every move? Not just license plates but identifying objects on a vehicle dents, color, make, model, bumper stickers that can ultimately track us in the future.”
MBPD currently keeps images for five years but a new bill coming forward, SB 1013, would prohibit a public agency from retaining information for more than 30 days and would need to delete it within 14 days after that mark, unless that is pulled as evidence.
“The amount of language that’s in those MOUs may deter, maybe used against us," Howard-Leiceter said. "You know they may say ‘well there’s a small sentence that says we have the ability to access.”
Watkins said that these cameras have helped track down people involved in crimes.
“With use of the Motorola Soultions System, ALPR system, we were able to locate the resident, the suspect, and we were able to recover the loaded firearm and bring that person to justice,” Watkins said.
The 5-year contract would come to an end January 2028 and be evaluated and brought before the board once again.
