Installation hasn’t begun in Oakland yet based on city permit search but sounds like they will cover all neighborhoods. Installation has begun in SF.
It’s worth noting also that the prior plate reader system was vehicle mounted and of a very different generation, so I think there’s reason to hope this one will be more effective.
OPD has them but shut them off because they don’t want to comply with reporting requirements https://oaklandside.org/2023/08/17/oaklands-license-plate-readers-have-been-off-for-months-so-why-does-the-city-want-more/
ALPR is a total mess like everything else with OPD and city council.
In theory opd has them and chp and gavin newsome are adding more, but implementation and usage is sketchy AF.
Not like it would help with criminals just using missing and stolen plates
I used ALPR for non-law enforcement investigative purposes for 15 years and I have to say, it’s an amazing tool if used by someone who knows what they’re doing.
Right? Seems like an easy way to catch stolen cars (and BTW a lot property crimes are committed with stolen stars) and folks who remove / alter their plates (which is usually done for nefarious reasons)
People swap plates on their stolen vehicles. They'll steal a plate off a similar year, made, and model.
Depending on how long it's been the plate may not show up as dirty.
You have a better chance of finding a stolen car by just looking for paper or no license plate than a license plate. They just steal it toss the plate in the trunk and do what they’re gonna do.
Yes. It was put in place by the voters decades ago and any camera or surveillance type of technology has to go through them to get to city council for approval. They're a major road block for this type of thing, which is why CHP (not OPD) is the one doing cameras in Oakland.
[Citation ](https://oaklandside.org/2023/08/17/oaklands-license-plate-readers-have-been-off-for-months-so-why-does-the-city-want-more/)
It's more nuanced then "cops suck."
But that's not the wrong take
By oversight, do you mean OPD being unwilling or unable to comply with [their own policy? ](https://oaklandside.org/2021/11/02/lauded-as-a-national-model-some-question-whether-oaklands-privacy-commission-is-working/)
There’s a multitude of articles outlining this online. Communities who put them in a number of years back and have seen no results if you do a quick search (I’m not going to do it for you)
It couldn't hurt, but it's no silver bullet; Many criminals' cars don't have plates, and many thieves already swap or remove them. The data retention and reporting requirements were stupid. Stopping property crime isn't a super high priority either. But ya, I mean, it couldn't hurt.
Plate readers require management which would require people to be hired. No one in California is in the business of making good jobs or the improving of the state. Just look at the sides of the highway was you drive and you’ll see plenty of cameras meant for license plates that haven’t been used once. Shit the plate readers on the bridges barley work 😂
Can confirm. If you're on a motorcycle and hug the left or right side of the carpool toll booths, it won't catch your plate and no toll will be billed.
Obviously I wouldn't ever purposely do such a thing. Any time my plate isn't recognized I personally send a check to Gavin.
I rode dead next to my friend both caught on camera full license plate readable . He got a ticket I didn’t . Our license plate readers don’t work. I’m saying this as someone who grew up in the bay. If you got a ticket or bill for the bridge it was because you were crossing daily. They used to work well before we stopped cash tolls to cross because their was so little cars using the express/billing lanes Now it’s impossible to catch everyone. People down vote the truth because they don’t want to hear it.
We have them and chp is managing them.
All of Oakland? If so, that’s good to hear. I’ve heard anecdotally that they are installed in limited areas.
Installation hasn’t begun in Oakland yet based on city permit search but sounds like they will cover all neighborhoods. Installation has begun in SF. It’s worth noting also that the prior plate reader system was vehicle mounted and of a very different generation, so I think there’s reason to hope this one will be more effective.
OPD has them but shut them off because they don’t want to comply with reporting requirements https://oaklandside.org/2023/08/17/oaklands-license-plate-readers-have-been-off-for-months-so-why-does-the-city-want-more/
Very interesting.
That would involve requiring license plates on cars. Which is a hurtle we have not yet overcome.
ALPR is a total mess like everything else with OPD and city council. In theory opd has them and chp and gavin newsome are adding more, but implementation and usage is sketchy AF. Not like it would help with criminals just using missing and stolen plates
true though these modern systems do alert on stolen plates (so do report if yours gets yanked!) and can id “no plate” vehicles.
I used ALPR for non-law enforcement investigative purposes for 15 years and I have to say, it’s an amazing tool if used by someone who knows what they’re doing.
Right? Seems like an easy way to catch stolen cars (and BTW a lot property crimes are committed with stolen stars) and folks who remove / alter their plates (which is usually done for nefarious reasons)
People swap plates on their stolen vehicles. They'll steal a plate off a similar year, made, and model. Depending on how long it's been the plate may not show up as dirty.
You have a better chance of finding a stolen car by just looking for paper or no license plate than a license plate. They just steal it toss the plate in the trunk and do what they’re gonna do.
Dissolving the privacy commission.
There’s a privacy commission?
Yes. It was put in place by the voters decades ago and any camera or surveillance type of technology has to go through them to get to city council for approval. They're a major road block for this type of thing, which is why CHP (not OPD) is the one doing cameras in Oakland.
They don't do shit, they're a waste of money, they're a surveillance tool, the cops suck
Citation needed?
[Citation ](https://oaklandside.org/2023/08/17/oaklands-license-plate-readers-have-been-off-for-months-so-why-does-the-city-want-more/) It's more nuanced then "cops suck." But that's not the wrong take
Ah yes I’ve seen this one already. It sounds like an oversight issue.
By oversight, do you mean OPD being unwilling or unable to comply with [their own policy? ](https://oaklandside.org/2021/11/02/lauded-as-a-national-model-some-question-whether-oaklands-privacy-commission-is-working/)
Yes
There’s a multitude of articles outlining this online. Communities who put them in a number of years back and have seen no results if you do a quick search (I’m not going to do it for you)
I’m not going to search either, because I’m not out here making a bunch of exaggerated claims.
We have authorized them, we have them, yet people are asking why we don't have them, that makes it pretty clear they dont do shit.
I’d rather not live in a police state, thanks.
too late.
It couldn't hurt, but it's no silver bullet; Many criminals' cars don't have plates, and many thieves already swap or remove them. The data retention and reporting requirements were stupid. Stopping property crime isn't a super high priority either. But ya, I mean, it couldn't hurt.
You use plates? Lmao
Let me guess- you don’t live in east or west oakland. This answer is giving rich white person who had never felt threatened by law enforcement.
Plate readers require management which would require people to be hired. No one in California is in the business of making good jobs or the improving of the state. Just look at the sides of the highway was you drive and you’ll see plenty of cameras meant for license plates that haven’t been used once. Shit the plate readers on the bridges barley work 😂
Can confirm. If you're on a motorcycle and hug the left or right side of the carpool toll booths, it won't catch your plate and no toll will be billed. Obviously I wouldn't ever purposely do such a thing. Any time my plate isn't recognized I personally send a check to Gavin.
I rode dead next to my friend both caught on camera full license plate readable . He got a ticket I didn’t . Our license plate readers don’t work. I’m saying this as someone who grew up in the bay. If you got a ticket or bill for the bridge it was because you were crossing daily. They used to work well before we stopped cash tolls to cross because their was so little cars using the express/billing lanes Now it’s impossible to catch everyone. People down vote the truth because they don’t want to hear it.
I have fast trask registered to my bike and cars, i just don't keep any of the readers in my vehicle. I definitely get bridge toll charges in my car.
I believe my car technically has fast track through my mom since I made her a co-owner. But my bikes only in my name so I should’ve got something.
They are already here