License Plate Readers

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office does not share data from license plate readers with federal agencies. 

The Sheriff has been utilizing automated license plate readers in the city since 2024.  They are located at or near the city boundaries along major roads and other high traffic areas. Specific camera locations are chosen based on the flow of traffic through these corridors.

Cameras typically focus on vehicles within two lanes of traffic and a distance of up to 65 feet. They do not document whether a vehicle is coming or leaving a specific location along a street, such as a school or business.