Sunnyvale Keeps License Plate Cameras

Sunnyvale’s City Council voted unanimously on April 22 to keep using automated license plate reader cameras on public streets after residents packed chambers to argue over surveillance and crime. (sanjosespotlight.com) (sunnyvale.ca.gov) The cameras are part of Sunnyvale’s Flock Safety program, which city officials have defended as a tool for tracking vehicles linked to robberies, burglaries and other crimes. Sunnyvale police previously rolled out a 20-camera program, with 12 installed during the initial phase. (sanjosespotlight.com) (citizenportal.ai) Officials told the council the system stores scans for 30 days before deletion. Privacy critics said that still creates a searchable log of where drivers have been. (sanjosespotlight.com) The vote came as South Bay cities are moving in different directions on the same technology. Mountain View’s council voted last month to end its license plate camera contract, while San Jose kept its much larger network and added tighter rules. (mv-voice.com) (kqed.org) That regional split has sharpened scrutiny of Flock Safety, whose cameras capture plate numbers, vehicle descriptions and locations as cars pass by. San Jose is also facing a federal class action over its own network. (cbsnews.com) (mercurynews.com) Sunnyvale officials have pointed to specific arrests to justify the system. In one March case, police said a camera alert helped officers locate a vehicle tied to an assault involving a gun and arrest a San Jose teenager. (svvoice.com) Residents who opposed the program warned that safeguards can change and that data-sharing rules may not fully prevent misuse. Supporters, including city officials, said the cameras are mounted in public places and are aimed at solving crimes faster. (sanjosespotlight.com) (sfgate.com) Sunnyvale plans to revisit the program in 2027. For now, the cameras stay up, and the city is betting the public-safety case will outweigh the privacy backlash. (sanjosespotlight.com)