What did La Mesa decide?
Times of San Diego reported that La Mesa police will review their policy on automated license plate readers. The review follows the paper's own analysis of how often outside agencies search the city's cameras.
That analysis covered seven months, from July 1, 2025, through Feb. 2. It found more than 3 million scans logged on La Mesa's 20 plate readers, or 14,412 scans per day on average.
The volume comes from La Mesa's membership in Flock Safety's statewide Automated License Plate Reader Network. Agencies in that network can search all participating cameras, including La Mesa's. Some cities, including San Diego, opted out, which keeps outside agencies from reaching their readers without direct authorization.
Will La Mesa leave the state network?
Not yet. The police department is reconsidering whether to limit which agencies it shares with, or to leave the network entirely. The source does not say which option police favor or when a decision will come.
Lt. Travis Higgins told the paper the readers are valuable for solving crimes and locating vehicles tied to criminal activity, and that the department takes privacy concerns seriously.
What changes for drivers?
The changes described so far apply to La Mesa's own program:
- Outside agencies that use La Mesa's cameras will soon have to sign data-use agreements.
- Those agreements require officers to list the reason for each search.
- The agreements include assurances that searches will be used only for law enforcement purposes, as governed by city code.
- Police will give specific reasons why some searches are not shared with the public.
The source does not say La Mesa's 20 readers will be turned off or removed. Plate readers run by neighboring cities, the county, the state, businesses or HOAs are not part of this review, so they stay where they are. Check the camera map to see where mapped readers sit near you, and read how plate readers work for background on what a search can reach.
What happens next?
The source gives no date for the new data-use agreements or the policy review. The city says the agreements will come "soon," which is the only timing given.
Residents who want answers can ask the police department which outside agencies have searched La Mesa's readers, whether the new agreements will be posted publicly, and what reasons police will publish for withheld searches. Public transparency records for agencies are collected on the agencies page.