Santa Barbara Halts Automated License Plate Reader Program

Santa Barbara has terminated its contract with automated license plate reader (ALPR) provider Flock Safety and postponed plans to replace the surveillance system, following sustained public pressure over privacy and data-sharing concerns.

The city's contract with Flock Safety expired on August 23, 2026. City Council had been poised to approve a replacement system from Verkada, a company offering closed-circuit cameras designed to prevent external data access. Instead, after hearing from nearly 30 community members during an August 26 hearing, the council directed staff to conduct a comprehensive review of the city's automated camera policy before signing any new contracts.

Public demands time and transparency

Community advocates pressed the council to slow down and avoid repeating what they characterized as mistakes made with the initial Flock deployment. Larry Behrendt of Indivisible Santa Barbara questioned why the city was "in such a rush to repeat the same mistake you made with Flock."

Primitiva Hernandez, executive director of 805 UndocuFund, criticized the timing and format of the hearing, which took place mid-workday and limited public comments to one minute each. "We are asking for time," Hernandez said, requesting a community forum that would allow for substantive discussion and presentation of research.

The city originally sought to replace Flock after residents raised concerns that the company's system allowed federal agencies to access data for immigration enforcement purposes.

Council members acknowledge evolving privacy landscape

Councilmember Meagan Harmon, who raised privacy objections when the city first drafted its automated camera policy in 2020, noted that public concern has intensified as similar systems nationwide have misidentified suspects, suffered data breaches, and enabled domestic abuse through stalking. "Privacy concerns are not going away, they continue to grow," Harmon said.

Councilmember Wendy Santamaria emphasized that even the possibility of data misuse erodes public trust, regardless of whether local law enforcement has shared information. Police Chief Kelly Gordon confirmed that no outside agency had accessed city-collected data.

Councilmember Kristen Sneddon acknowledged the technology landscape has shifted significantly since the original policy adoption: "I don't think we could have seen how far this was going to go. When we adopted this policy, it was a different world."

Law enforcement cites public safety benefits

Councilmembers Eric Friedman and Mike Jordan supported expanded public discussion while noting instances where the cameras helped apprehend violent criminals. According to the Santa Barbara Police Department, the system has been used to locate suspects in cases involving child exploitation, human trafficking, narcotics distribution, and a stabbing.

Chief Gordon warned that without the cameras, "we would not have the same ability to prevent and make arrests when it comes to human trafficking," while acknowledging the need to balance privacy with public safety.

The council will hold an official vote to delay the Verkada contract, open a public comment period, and return to review input by year's end. Santa Barbara will operate without automated license plate readers during the interim review period.

Why it matters

Santa Barbara's decision reflects growing municipal caution around surveillance technology as privacy advocates gain traction in challenging automated systems. The city's willingness to operate without ALPR cameras while conducting policy review demonstrates that public pressure can reshape local technology procurement, even when law enforcement cites operational benefits. As more cities deploy automated surveillance, Santa Barbara's pause may influence how other municipalities balance public safety claims against privacy concerns and community trust.

These details were first reported by the Santa Barbara Independent.