Automated License Plate Readers

The Naperville Police Department uses automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology to enhance public safety and assist officers and investigators in locating stolen vehicles, wanted persons, missing or endangered persons, and vehicles associated with criminal activity. ALPR technology can also provide investigative leads that help identify suspects and witnesses, recover stolen property, and solve crimes.

Policy

The Department's use of ALPR technology is governed by departmental policy. That policy establishes requirements for how the technology may be used, who may access the system, how searches are documented, how information is retained and shared, and how system use is audited. Because the policy was recently updated, the previous version is also available for transparency and historical reference.

Successes

ALPR technology has assisted Naperville Police in locating missing and endangered people, developing investigative leads, identifying wanted individuals, and recovering stolen vehicles. Read a summary of successful uses of the technology here.

Safeguards

We recognize that ALPR technology is a powerful investigative tool and that its use raises legitimate privacy considerations. For that reason, the Department has established safeguards designed to ensure that the technology is used only for legitimate law enforcement and public safety purposes.

• Access to the ALPR system is limited to authorized and trained personnel. Historical searches must be connected to a legitimate law enforcement or public safety purpose and include identifying information such as an incident, CAD, or case number, the type of incident, and the reason for the search.
• Searches and system activity are logged and subject to audit, allowing the Department to review who accessed the system, when it was accessed, what was searched, and the stated purpose for the search.
• Routine ALPR data collected by Naperville is retained for 30 days and then deleted unless the information must be preserved for an authorized investigative, evidentiary, legal, or records-retention purpose.
• Manual audits are conducted by supervisory staff.
• ALPR information may only be accessed, used, or shared for authorized law enforcement or public safety purposes and in accordance with applicable law and Department policy.
• Suspected misuse of the ALPR system is reviewed and investigated. Misuse may result in loss of system access, disciplinary action, criminal investigation or prosecution when applicable, and other consequences.
• The complete policy linked above provides additional information regarding authorized uses, prohibited uses, privacy protections, data sharing, retention, hot lists, training, and auditing.