Automated License Plate Readers

ALPR systems capture an image of a vehicle’s license plate, read the image using software, compare the plate number read against databases containing vehicles of interest, and, ultimately, alert an officer when the system has captured the license plate of a vehicle of interest. Automated capture, analysis, and comparison typically takes seconds. 

An “alert” results when a vehicle’s license plate number has been included on a list of vehicles of interest. These lists typically come from sources such as the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), the Law Enforcement Agency Data System (LEADS) and National Amber Alerts.

ALPR systems also allow officers to manually enter vehicle and/or license plate information into the system. For example, crime victims and witnesses are frequently able to provide responding officers with the description of a suspect’s vehicle, in some cases including either a full or partial license plate number. This information could be entered into the system by an officer and thus included on the Police Department’s list of vehicles of interest.

It is important to note that, although the term ALPR includes a specific reference to an “automated” process, when an alert is generated, an officer must independently validate that the system has accurately read the license plate, that the plate observed was issued by the same state as the plate which is wanted, and that the alert is still current.

To promote the utmost transparency, the Oak Park Police Department has created an ALPR Transparency Portal, which provides statistics on the collection, storage and use of ALPR data in the Village of Oak Park.

Click here to view Oak Park’s Flock Transparency Portal

• Oak Park Police Department Policy and Procedure – Automated License Plate Readers

Find answers to frequently asked questions related to ALPR technology below:

• How many ALPR units does the Oak Park Police Department have?

The Oak Park Police Department has been authorized to install eight ALPR units throughout the Village. Click here to view a map of where the ALPR units are located.

• How did the Oak Park Police Department determine where to place ALPR units in the community?

The ALPR cameras are strategically placed throughout Oak Park based on a multipoint crime analysis of current criminal incidents, historical criminal incidents and high-density violent crime areas. The department reserves the rights to relocate the cameras as needed.

• What crimes will ALPR data be used to investigate?

ALPR data will only be used as an investigative tool for violent crimes, stolen vehicles and missing or endangered persons. The ALPR may be utilized for other significant felony offenses with a written request approved by the Chief of Police.​

• How does Flock Safety keep devices and data secure?

Flock Safety holds itself to a high level of security. The company has implemented the following security policies and features:

• Flock Safety data and footage is encrypted throughout its entire lifecycle. All data is securely stored with AES256 encryption with our cloud provider, Amazon Web Services.

• On-device, data is only stored temporarily for a short time until it is uploaded to the cloud, at which point it is removed automatically from the local device. This means the data is secure from when it is on the Flock Safety device to when it is transferred to the cloud, using a secure connection to Flock Safety servers. While stored in the cloud, all data (both footage and metadata) is fully encrypted at rest.

• Flock Safety defaults to permanently deleting all data after 30 days on a rolling basis, setting a new standard in the industry.

• Who has access to data collected by Flock Safety devices?

Flock Safety customers such as the Oak Park Police Department own 100 percent of their data and determine who has access. Flock Safety will never share or sell the data, per our privacy policy.

With explicit written permission from the customer, Flock Safety does have the ability to grant law enforcement access to specific footage for a short period in the event of an investigation following a crime. Access can only be granted through the approval of the customer.

Flock Safety has maintenance software in place to measure device performance and image capture quality. This is used to diagnose issues preemptively and schedule service calls in the event of a device malfunction or emergency.

• How long does Flock Safety keep data?

Flock Safety stores footage for only 30 days on a rolling basis by default, after which the footage is automatically hard deleted. The only exception to this is if a democratically-elected governing body or official legislates a different data retention period.

• What features do Flock Safety devices have that enable audits and oversight?

While searching for footage or other evidence on the Flock Safety platform, law enforcement agencies must enter reason codes to verify the legitimacy of the search and create an audit trail.

Authorized users go through training to properly use our system.

The Oak Park Police Department commits not to use the data collected to work with third- party repossession companies, traffic enforcement, revenue collection, unpaid fines, or towing companies. Flock Safety does not use facial recognition or capture any personally identifiable information such as name, phone number, or address, and we do not work with federal government agencies for immigration enforcement purposes.

Flock Safety’s ALPR Transparency Portal, offers a public-facing dashboard for law enforcement agencies, city leaders, and local government officials to share policies, usage, and public safety outcomes related to ALPR technology. The ALPR Transparency Portal helps promote transparency and accountability in the use of policing technology in order to build community trust while creating a safer, more equitable society.

• Is the Flock Safety system a violation of Oak Park’s Welcoming Village Ordinance?

The Village Welcoming Ordinance adopted in 2017 specifically addresses data collection related to a person's immigration status.

The ALPR technology provided by Flock does not use facial recognition or capture any personally identifiable information such as name, phone number, or address that could be used to verify immigrations status. Furthermore, Flock Group and its clients do not work with federal government agencies for immigration enforcement purposes.

• Is the Flock Safety system a violation of Oak Park’s Reproductive Health Rights Ordinance?

The Village's Reproductive Health Rights Ordinance adopted in 2022 prohibits enforcement related to reproductive health care.

All users of the ALPR system will abide by the Oak Park Village Code.

• What about publicized cases where police agencies have utilized this form of technology pretextually in excessive force incidents against black and brown motorists?

The police agencies that have been identified in such incidents have documented issues concerning questionable tactics and several have been subject to federal and/or state level investigations into their patterns and practices. The Oak Park Police Department has not been identified by the United States Department of Justice or the Office of the Illinois Attorney General as such an agency.

• Does the Oak Park Police Department share access to its cameras with other law enforcement agencies?

Yes, the Oak Park Police Department allows access to its cameras in an effort to more efficiently investigate crimes.

• What if communities that access to Oak Park's Flock data work with ICE?

If an outside agency is found to be using ALPR data for personal use, immigration enforcement and/or non-law enforcement purposes, the Oak Park Police Department will revoke sharing access.