Use of Automated Licence Plate Recognition Technology by the Victoria Police Department
Item
Zotero
Abstract Note
1.0 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF REPORT 1.1 Introduction
1. This investigation is about the use of Automated Licence Plate Recognition ("ALPR") technology by the Victoria Police Department ("VICPD"). ALPR uses cameras to photograph vehicles in order to identify the licence plate number of the vehicle. VICPD mounts cameras on a patrol car and records the licence plate numbers of vehicles that pass by the car. This information is then compared against a database maintained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ("RCMP") which lists licence plate numbers associated with individuals who are of interest to police.
2. In addition to the licence plate number, the ALPR system records the geographic location where the image was collected, and the time that it was collected. As a result, VICPD creates a record of where and when many drivers in Victoria have been on any given day. Over time, this has the potential to amass a large volume of information about individuals, most of whom are of no interest to police. In this report I examine the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of this information by VICPD.
1. This investigation is about the use of Automated Licence Plate Recognition ("ALPR") technology by the Victoria Police Department ("VICPD"). ALPR uses cameras to photograph vehicles in order to identify the licence plate number of the vehicle. VICPD mounts cameras on a patrol car and records the licence plate numbers of vehicles that pass by the car. This information is then compared against a database maintained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ("RCMP") which lists licence plate numbers associated with individuals who are of interest to police.
2. In addition to the licence plate number, the ALPR system records the geographic location where the image was collected, and the time that it was collected. As a result, VICPD creates a record of where and when many drivers in Victoria have been on any given day. Over time, this has the potential to amass a large volume of information about individuals, most of whom are of no interest to police. In this report I examine the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of this information by VICPD.
Date
November 15, 2012
Extra
20 pages.
Publisher
British Columbia Office of Commissioner of Information and Privacy
Short Title
Victoria Police Department Re.pdf
Title
Use of Automated Licence Plate Recognition Technology by the Victoria Police Department
Attachment Title
Victoria Police Department Re.pdf
Collection
Citation
British Columbia Office of Commissioner of Information and Privacy, “Use of Automated Licence Plate Recognition Technology by the Victoria Police Department,” Deobfuscating State Surveillance, accessed December 28, 2024, https://surveillance.glendon.yorku.ca/items/show/850.