Though there will be more than 20 license plate reader cameras monitoring local traffic, they will not be used to issue citations. The goal is to be able to identify cars leaving and entering the city and help police keep tabs on any criminal activity.
With 22 automated cameras tracking vehicles in Orinda, Orinda Police believes it’s become that much easier to keep the community safe and secure.
The number of automated license plate readers (ALPR) cameras has nearly tripled since May, meaning that the license plates of more vehicles entering and exiting the city are being recorded. These cameras capture the license plates and color and type of cars and trucks..
“The increase of ALPR cameras in Orinda is to improve the overall safety and security of the city with new technology,” Rossi said. “This increase will allow for anyone entering or exiting the city limits for the purposes of committing crime to have their vehicle’s license plate captured.”
The City Council authorized adding 15 cameras, at a cost of approximately $100,000, at a May 2025 meeting after hearing recommendations from the city manager and the police chief, and supporting testimony from Orinda residents concerned with theft and robberies in their neighborhoods.
Orinda has had seven ALPR cameras prior to this recent addition and all are “an extra technology tool to help his officers solve crimes,” said Rossi. “The ALPR cameras have assisted in several investigations resulting in closures of the cases by arrest. It also has alerted officers about stolen vehicles, wanted vehicles and vehicles associated to specific crimes.”
Concerns have been raised about abuse of the information, which is stored by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, and a CalMatters article in June reported more than 100 violations of state law involving license plate reader data.
State law requires local law enforcement to have policies for ALPR data, including its “storage, collection, sharing and use of this information.” State Attorney General Rob Bonta issued guidance to state and local law enforcement agencies after finding numerous violations of local law enforcement agencies, making it clear that state law “does not permit California LEAs (local enforcement agencies) to share ALPR information with private entities or out-of-state or federal agencies, including out-of-state and federal law enforcement agencies.”
These ALPR cameras cannot be used for traffic enforcement, said Rossi. There is interest by the City Council to have different cameras installed to provide live images at some intersections to assist in emergency evacuation, but these particular ALPR cameras do not have
that capacity.
The City Council is also expected to review the impact of the additional ALPR cameras in mid-2026 and assess the success of the program.
