The Provo City Police Department recently entered into a statewide Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that allows Utah law enforcement agencies to share Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) information for authorized law enforcement purposes, according to an October 15 statement.
The agreement establishes rules under which participating law enforcement agencies may share ALPR data with one another as permitted by Utah law. ALPR technology utilizes cameras to capture images of vehicles and compare them against databases associated with active criminal investigations, outstanding warrants, stolen vehicles, AMBER Alerts, or missing persons.
The information-sharing agreement is intended to assist agencies when criminal activity or public safety incidents cross city and county boundaries. Participating agencies may access authorized ALPR information from other agencies when initiating searches to locate stolen vehicles, find missing or endangered persons, support active criminal investigations, or locate vehicles associated with outstanding warrants.
ALPR systems, which are sometimes referred to as Flock cameras, capture still images of the rear view of a vehicle traveling on a roadway. These images may identify the vehicle's make, model, color, and license plate, as well as other identifying characteristics such as vehicle damage or stickers.
The Provo City Police Department determines how it uses its own ALPR resources and data in accordance with department policy, state law, and the terms of the agreement. However, the city does not control how other municipal, county, or state law enforcement organizations deploy ALPR technology, manage data, or place cameras. Many ALPR systems operating in Utah are owned and managed by agencies outside of Provo City.
The MOU does not expand law enforcement authority beyond what is permitted under state law and is not an approval of any specific camera installation. Residents interested in learning more about ALPR technology or the agreement can review the signed MOU or contact the Police Department at 801-852-6210.
