RPD Policy 46.2: Automated License Plate Recognitions Systems
(41.3.9)
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the proper use of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems.
Policy
ALPR systems have provided many opportunities for enhancement of productivity, effectiveness, and officer safety. It is the policy of the Department that all authorized employees abide by the guidelines set forth herein when using ALPR systems.
Definitions
Automated License Plate Recognition ALPR: Specialized camera systems and associated software designed to read, store and check license The ALPR systems can be mounted to a patrol vehicle (Mobile), stationary/fixed, handheld, or deployed by other means.
Alert: a visual and/or auditory notice that is triggered when the ALPR system receives a potential “hit” on a license plate.
Detection Metadata: A license plate or other identification number that is captured or derived from an ALPR system, including but not limited to the license plate number, photographic image of the plate and vehicle, date and time of capture, geographic location or GPS coordinates, and any available vehicle descriptors.
Hot Lists: A database of license plate numbers associated with stolen vehicles, wanted persons, missing persons, AMBER or similar alerts, or other vehicles of legitimate law-enforcement interest that is regularly updated and compared against ALPR detections.
Hit: A detection matched to a plate that has previously been registered on a “hot list” of vehicle plates related to stolen vehicles, wanted vehicles, or other factors supporting investigation, or which has been manually registered by a user for further investigation.
LEARN: Law Enforcement Archival and Reporting Network
OCR: Optical Character Recognition
READ: Digital images of license plates and vehicles and associated metadata (e.g., date, time, and geographic coordinates associated with the vehicle image capture) that are captured by the ALPR
Stationary Fixed ALPR System: ALPR cameras that are permanently affixed to a structure, within an intersection such as a pole, a traffic barrier, a building or a bridge.
Mobile ALPR System: ALPR cameras that are affixed, either permanently or temporarily to a law enforcement vehicle for mobile deployment.
TAS (Target Alerting Service): Software designed to allow trained personnel to monitor hits generated from ALPR systems.
Responsibility
The Support Services Division (SSD) Commander or his designee has the authority to issue and or approve ALPR devices.
Access to ALPR data will be regulated by the SSD Commander or his designee. Data stored on the server will be retained for a minimum of seven (7) days.
Only individuals who have been properly trained will be authorized to use the ALPR
All ALPR system repairs, hardware or software, shall be made only by authorized vendors or employees authorized by the SSD Commander or his designee.
The SSD Commander will maintain a compete inventory of all ALPR equipment including assignment
The SSD Commander will be responsible for overseeing the development and administration of the training process for assuring proficiency of instructors and operators with the ALPR.
Procedures
ALPR systems and ALPR data are the property of this Department and intended for use in conducting official business. ALPR systems, associated equipment, and databases are authorized for official public safety purposes only.
Automated License Plate Recognition System Usage
ALPR systems shall be used only for official law-enforcement purposes consistent with this policy and Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 35-1-22). The same restrictions apply regardless of the ALPR system used. Acceptable uses include, but shall not be limited to; Missing persons, apprehension of known criminal suspects, recovery of stolen property, enforcement of stay-away-orders, and apprehension of individuals pursuant to an outstanding arrest warrant.
ALPR data may be accessed and used during internal
Any Employee who intentionally or negligently misuses the ALPR system in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including Additionally, misuse could constitute a criminal offense.
Only ALPR devices authorized by the Department will be approved for
A valid reason shall always be provided when conducting a search or query within the ALPR system. When applicable, a case number should also be provided.
An ALPR “hit” shall not be used as the sole reason for a traffic stop or enforcement contact until all provisions contained in this section have been Contact with the vehicle and its occupants will only be made after the “hit” is confirmed.
The officer receiving the notification must first visually verify that the Hot List entry matches the digital image displayed by the If, for any reason the information does not match, the “hit” will be rejected. If, however, the information does match, the “hit” will be accepted and the officer will verify the “hit” through NCIC/GCIC.
After verifying the “hit” the officer will then take appropriate action based on the
Training
Prior to accessing an ALPR system for law enforcement purposes, all employees will be properly trained and demonstrate proficiency.
Training will be based on manufacturers’
Training will include at a minimum:
Set-up and maintenance procedures;
Proper use guidelines;
Legal issues involved with the use of the ALPR Device;
Reporting requirements; and
Department policy
All ALPR training will be documented and forwarded to the Training
Data Security, Access, Storage and Retention
The Roswell Police Department utilizes several databases for data security, access, storage, and retention of ALPR detections.
Data Security Access and Retention:
Use of these databases is restricted to authorized law enforcement personnel
RPD authorized users share Detection Metadata and have access to data generated by other agencies, through use of the databases.
Information gathered, collected, or retained by ALPR systems shall not be sold, accessed, or used for any purpose other than legitimate law enforcement or public safety objectives.
All ALPR data used in conjunction with an open law enforcement investigation shall be considered evidence and must be properly documented and preserved in accordance with Department policy.
Non-evidentiary ALPR data shall be retained for a period not to exceed 30 days and thereafter automatically purged from the system.
Pursuant to C.G.A. §35-1-22(f), captured ALPR data shall not be subject to public disclosure under the Georgia Open Records Act.
Auditing
The Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Commander or his designee will complete monthly audits to ensure compliance with this policy and applicable Audit findings and any corrective actions shall be documented.
Yes. ALPRs are a proven resource for bringing about quicker, successful resolutions to active cases. Since 2023, the technology has been used in nearly 1,000 investigations conducted by RPD, a number that continues to grow as the department conducts ongoing historical case reviews.
In 2026 alone, Flock ALPRs have provided meaningful contributions to nearly 500 investigations to date (current as of Sept. ‘26). These cases include homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies, burglaries, kidnappings, and missing persons.
With these technology tools:
Justice can come quicker for those who have been victimized. In 2023, two Roswell residents were critically injured in a violent hit-and-run. ALPR data was instrumental in identifying the vehicle, leading to the suspect’s arrest before the day ended. Read more about the 2023 hit-and-run investigation.
Violent offenders can be taken off the street more quickly. In 2024, a suspect fled the scene of a domestic-related homicide. Equipped with his tag number, officers used ALPR data to pinpoint his recent location and safely take him into custody less than two hours after the initial 911 call. Read more about the 2024 homicide investigation.
Missing people can be returned home to their families more quickly. Since 2023, officers have deployed this technology to aid in the search for at least 43 people reported missing in our jurisdiction, providing critical leads that have successfully helped reunite loved ones.
The primary role of a Peace Officer in Georgia is to uphold the constitutional rights of all. Recent federal court rulings have consistently upheld ALPR technology as a constitutional tool for aiding police investigations on public roadways. ALPR cameras capture images of vehicles in public view where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, and thus do not trigger Fourth Amendment protections. See Schmidt v. City of Norfolk (2026) or United States v. Porter (2026) for examples.
While case law establishes the constitutionality of using ALPRs on public roadways, Georgia state law strictly governs how that data is handled to protect the public from misuse. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-22, it is a crime to knowingly request, use, obtain, or attempt to obtain captured license plate data under false pretenses or for any purpose other than a legitimate law enforcement duty.
To further protect citizens’ privacy, this same statute explicitly exempts captured ALPR data from general Open Records Requests, ensuring the information remains secure from public disclosure.
Access to the Flock system is restricted exclusively to authorized personnel who require it for their immediate job-related duties. Each search requires certain accompanying documentation, including a valid investigative justification and a case number when applicable. These searches are permanently recorded in an audit log tied to each specific user. RPD conducts monthly, proactive audits of the use of the Flock system, with no identified instances of misuse to date.
RPD has had an established policy in place governing the responsible use of ALPRs since 2014. Read RPD's current Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Policy below.
RPD Policy 46.2: Automated License Plate Recognitions Systems
(41.3.9)
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the proper use of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems.
Policy
ALPR systems have provided many opportunities for enhancement of productivity, effectiveness, and officer safety. It is the policy of the Department that all authorized employees abide by the guidelines set forth herein when using ALPR systems.
Definitions
Automated License Plate Recognition ALPR: Specialized camera systems and associated software designed to read, store and check license The ALPR systems can be mounted to a patrol vehicle (Mobile), stationary/fixed, handheld, or deployed by other means.
Alert: a visual and/or auditory notice that is triggered when the ALPR system receives a potential “hit” on a license plate.
Detection Metadata: A license plate or other identification number that is captured or derived from an ALPR system, including but not limited to the license plate number, photographic image of the plate and vehicle, date and time of capture, geographic location or GPS coordinates, and any available vehicle descriptors.
Hot Lists: A database of license plate numbers associated with stolen vehicles, wanted persons, missing persons, AMBER or similar alerts, or other vehicles of legitimate law-enforcement interest that is regularly updated and compared against ALPR detections.
Hit: A detection matched to a plate that has previously been registered on a “hot list” of vehicle plates related to stolen vehicles, wanted vehicles, or other factors supporting investigation, or which has been manually registered by a user for further investigation.
LEARN: Law Enforcement Archival and Reporting Network
OCR: Optical Character Recognition
READ: Digital images of license plates and vehicles and associated metadata (e.g., date, time, and geographic coordinates associated with the vehicle image capture) that are captured by the ALPR
Stationary Fixed ALPR System: ALPR cameras that are permanently affixed to a structure, within an intersection such as a pole, a traffic barrier, a building or a bridge.
Mobile ALPR System: ALPR cameras that are affixed, either permanently or temporarily to a law enforcement vehicle for mobile deployment.
TAS (Target Alerting Service): Software designed to allow trained personnel to monitor hits generated from ALPR systems.
Responsibility
The Support Services Division (SSD) Commander or his designee has the authority to issue and or approve ALPR devices.
Access to ALPR data will be regulated by the SSD Commander or his designee. Data stored on the server will be retained for a minimum of seven (7) days.
Only individuals who have been properly trained will be authorized to use the ALPR
All ALPR system repairs, hardware or software, shall be made only by authorized vendors or employees authorized by the SSD Commander or his designee.
The SSD Commander will maintain a compete inventory of all ALPR equipment including assignment
The SSD Commander will be responsible for overseeing the development and administration of the training process for assuring proficiency of instructors and operators with the ALPR.
Procedures
ALPR systems and ALPR data are the property of this Department and intended for use in conducting official business. ALPR systems, associated equipment, and databases are authorized for official public safety purposes only.
Automated License Plate Recognition System Usage
ALPR systems shall be used only for official law-enforcement purposes consistent with this policy and Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 35-1-22). The same restrictions apply regardless of the ALPR system used. Acceptable uses include, but shall not be limited to; Missing persons, apprehension of known criminal suspects, recovery of stolen property, enforcement of stay-away-orders, and apprehension of individuals pursuant to an outstanding arrest warrant.
ALPR data may be accessed and used during internal
Any Employee who intentionally or negligently misuses the ALPR system in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including Additionally, misuse could constitute a criminal offense.
Only ALPR devices authorized by the Department will be approved for
A valid reason shall always be provided when conducting a search or query within the ALPR system. When applicable, a case number should also be provided.
An ALPR “hit” shall not be used as the sole reason for a traffic stop or enforcement contact until all provisions contained in this section have been Contact with the vehicle and its occupants will only be made after the “hit” is confirmed.
The officer receiving the notification must first visually verify that the Hot List entry matches the digital image displayed by the If, for any reason the information does not match, the “hit” will be rejected. If, however, the information does match, the “hit” will be accepted and the officer will verify the “hit” through NCIC/GCIC.
After verifying the “hit” the officer will then take appropriate action based on the
Training
Prior to accessing an ALPR system for law enforcement purposes, all employees will be properly trained and demonstrate proficiency.
Training will be based on manufacturers’
Training will include at a minimum:
Set-up and maintenance procedures;
Proper use guidelines;
Legal issues involved with the use of the ALPR Device;
Reporting requirements; and
Department policy
All ALPR training will be documented and forwarded to the Training
Data Security, Access, Storage and Retention
The Roswell Police Department utilizes several databases for data security, access, storage, and retention of ALPR detections.
Data Security Access and Retention:
Use of these databases is restricted to authorized law enforcement personnel
RPD authorized users share Detection Metadata and have access to data generated by other agencies, through use of the databases.
Information gathered, collected, or retained by ALPR systems shall not be sold, accessed, or used for any purpose other than legitimate law enforcement or public safety objectives.
All ALPR data used in conjunction with an open law enforcement investigation shall be considered evidence and must be properly documented and preserved in accordance with Department policy.
Non-evidentiary ALPR data shall be retained for a period not to exceed 30 days and thereafter automatically purged from the system.
Pursuant to C.G.A. §35-1-22(f), captured ALPR data shall not be subject to public disclosure under the Georgia Open Records Act.
Auditing
The Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Commander or his designee will complete monthly audits to ensure compliance with this policy and applicable Audit findings and any corrective actions shall be documented.
Flock ALPR cameras capture still photographs of vehicles and license plates only, not people or faces. These photos are only accessed if directly searched, and are purged from the system after 14 days unless specific data is saved as relevant evidence in an active criminal investigation. The overwhelming majority of captured data is deleted without ever being viewed or accessed. The data captured by a Flock ALPR is 100% owned by RPD, not Flock Safety or any other entity. Flock is prohibited from selling or sharing this data with third parties.
The Roswell Police Department has the option to share ALPR data with vetted law enforcement partner agencies to assist in solving cases that cross jurisdictional lines. RPD strictly defines and controls the circumstances in which our shared data can be used by outside agencies.
RPD's shared data is authorized solely for active criminal investigations and exigent public safety emergencies, such as locating missing or endangered individuals. It is technologically restricted from being used for civil immigration enforcement or reproductive care, and is not shared with Federal agencies by default.
Investigative/Reactive Uses: When a crime has been committed or a person goes missing (e.g. Amber Alert, Mattie’s Call), officers can search captured photos to help locate a specific vehicle related to the investigation. These searches are narrow, restrictive, and auditable (see more in the accountability section below).
Proactive Uses: The system can alert RPD if a vehicle associated with a known warrant, stolen vehicle, or missing person enters our jurisdiction. Before initiating any traffic stop based on a Flock alert, RPD officers are strictly required by policy to visually verify that the physical license plate and the vehicle description match the alert details and confirm the warrant or stolen vehicle status through the Georgia and/or National Crime Information Center (GCIC, NCIC).
Flock ALPRs are affixed to poles facing vehicle traffic. The device captures a single, point-in-time photo of a vehicle and its license plate as it passes the camera. It then logs basic characteristics like the license plate number, color, body style, and the date/time/location where the photo was taken.
Non-Citizens: Applicants must provide a valid government issued photo ID to establish their identity and proof that they are authorized to work in the United States.
Non-Citizens: Applicants must provide a valid government issued photo ID to establish their identity and proof that they are authorized to work in the United States.
