The Woodland Police Department in California maintains an extensive network of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) and shares the collected data with a large number of other law enforcement agencies. As of October 2026, the department uses 38 Flock Safety cameras and one Motorola Vigilant camera, bringing their total to 39 ALPR cameras. The Woodland City Council supports the use of this technology, citing public safety benefits and specific policies designed to prevent misuse, according to information published by the City of Woodland.
These cameras capture vehicle and license plate images, along with characteristics like make, model, and color. The data is retained for 30 days unless preserved for a criminal investigation. The department states that this 30-day period balances investigative needs with privacy by automatically deleting unpreserved data.
How does Woodland, CA police use ALPR data?
The Woodland Police Department uses ALPRs as an investigative tool to help locate vehicles involved in crimes, recover stolen vehicles, and find missing persons. The department emphasizes that an ALPR alert is an investigative lead only and does not independently establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Officers must confirm the alert's accuracy and develop an independent lawful basis before taking action.
Key aspects of their ALPR usage and policy include:
- Data Retention: Visual media is stored on Flock Safety's cloud platform for 30 days.
- Audit Requirements: Policy 441 requires an annual audit of the ALPR system. Since January 2026, the department conducts monthly audits.
- Prohibited Uses: The policy explicitly prohibits using ALPR information for personal purposes, harassment, intimidation, immigration enforcement, or monitoring lawful activities.
- Facial Recognition: The system does not use facial recognition technology and is not designed to identify drivers or passengers.
With whom does Woodland, CA share ALPR data?
The Woodland Police Department shares its ALPR data with a wide range of agencies. The provided list indicates that Woodland shares data with over 300 organizations, primarily other police departments and sheriff's offices across California, but also including agencies in other states like Michigan, Indiana, Texas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, and a federal entity (Loma Linda Healthcare System CA Veterans Affairs PD).
This extensive data-sharing network means that even if a driver's vehicle is only detected by a camera in Woodland, that record could be accessible to hundreds of other agencies. The department states it controls which agencies receive access and can approve, limit, suspend, or revoke access. One agency's access was suspended due to audit findings, though the reason was not specified as federal or a legal violation.
California law (Civil Code sections 1798.90.5-1798.90.55) mandates written public policies, access logs, security safeguards, retention rules, and controls on data sharing. Woodland PD states its program is structured to comply with these requirements, including California Senate Bill 34, which restricts disclosure to out-of-state and federal entities, except for authorized federal investigators on joint task forces.
Drivers in and around Woodland, CA should be aware of this widespread camera deployment and data sharing. To understand how such systems operate and what information they collect, you can visit our /learn page. For a broader view of where these cameras are located, check out the /map.
The Woodland Police Department's policy requires audits at least annually. The most recent update to their transparency page was on October 6, 2026, which included statistics for the previous 30 days, showing approximately 1.7 million unique plate reads and over 2,000 hotlist hits.