The Los Angeles Times reported that the Los Angeles City Council voted 10-4 on Tuesday to overrule the approval of a pilot program by Axon Enterprise. The pilot would attach license plate scanners to streetlights around the city, and it now goes to the council's public safety committee.
What did the council vote on?
The vote was on the pilot, not on a contract. The Times corrected an earlier version of its story to say so. The pilot had already been signed off on by the Board of Police Commissioners.
The pilot would use AI to identify vehicles, license plates, pedestrians and objects on streets and sidewalks. The Times describes it as a stronger version of the LAPD's current systems.
What is in the Axon contract?
The council said it had concerns about a 10-year, $235 million contract between the LAPD and Axon, but it lacked the authority to act on it. Under that agreement, Axon would replace thousands of body-worn cameras, supply new Tasers, provide cloud video storage, and roll out AI that helps officers write police reports.
LAPD technology chief Dean Gialamas told the Police Commission that the proposed deal would give the department complete ownership of the data it captures and bar sharing it with federal authorities. It would also limit plate reader use to criminal investigations, missing persons cases and other "serious public safety matters." The retention period would be cut significantly, and the department could run regular audits of officers who search often or in unusual ways.
Why did council members object?
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez said delaying the contract would give the public and city leaders more time to review the safeguards and policies. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez said it would be irresponsible to deploy the technology, citing news reports of officers misusing plate readers to stalk romantic partners and track women seeking reproductive health services.
Councilmember Traci Park, a supporter of the technology, said there is an urgent need to get the devices "up and running." Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said he still has privacy concerns, and said, "I don't know what else the cameras are doing."
What changes for drivers?
The pilot is on hold, so it does not add scanners to streetlights for now. The Times reports that the LAPD let its agreement with Flock Safety lapse earlier this year. Police officials say they no longer have access to Flock's cameras, many of which are owned by homeowners associations and other private groups.
The Times does not say how many plate readers the LAPD runs today. To see where cameras are near you, use the camera map. For background on the systems, read how plate readers work.
When will the council take it up next?
The pilot goes to the public safety committee, likely at its Oct. 20 meeting, and then to the full council later that week.