Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Confirms ALPR Use Since 2007 Amid Public Concern

Coeur d'Alene residents recently voiced concerns over the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in their city. This public discussion, reported by the Coeur d'Alene Press, prompted the local police chief to clarify the city's history and policies regarding the surveillance technology.

For drivers, understanding where these cameras are located and how their data is used is key. FlockDetour, an independent platform, maps ALPRs and other surveillance cameras to help drivers stay informed. You can find more details on how these systems work on our /learn page.

What ALPRs does Coeur d'Alene use, and where are they?

Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Greg Yeager confirmed the city has used ALPRs since 2007. The department operates Motorola cameras, distinct from the Flock cameras identified by an open-source mapping project as being on private property. The city's ALPRs include:

• 20 Motorola cameras at eight fixed locations.
• Three police vehicles equipped with mobile ALPR units.
• Two trailers also using ALPR technology.

The annual operating cost for the city's Motorola cameras is $17,000.

How is ALPR data used and stored in Coeur d'Alene?

Chief Yeager stated that the Coeur d'Alene Police Department uses ALPRs primarily for mitigating traffic and assisting in investigations of reported incidents. These include cases of stolen cars, poaching, homicides, and missing persons. The cameras are not used for minor traffic infractions. For example, if a car is reported stolen and its license plate is entered into the National Crime Information Center database, an ALPR detection can lead to a legitimate traffic stop.

For drivers, it's important to know the department's data retention policy. ALPR data is not legally accessible to the public in Idaho. The Coeur d'Alene Police Department retains ALPR data for a maximum of one year. According to Chief Yeager, if a vehicle is never linked to an accident or crime, its data is deleted without review. He emphasized that a license plate read alone does not establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause for further action.

Despite these assurances, public opposition continues, with tort claims filed in other Idaho cities, Caldwell and Wilder, over their use of Flock cameras, citing Fourth Amendment concerns. In Pocatello, an individual was charged with malicious injury to property after damaging two Flock cameras. Chief Yeager suggests that concerned citizens engage with local government assemblies, like city council or county commission meetings, to express their views.

To see where reported ALPRs are in your area, visit our /map.