IX. AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION (ALPR)
Chapter 19.3 Patrol Equipment
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish comprehensive guidelines governing the use, operation, and
management of the Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems by the department. This policy is
designed to ensure that all deployment and utilization of ALPR technology is conducted in strict compliance with
Virginia state laws and regulations, particularly those concerning privacy, data retention, and lawful criminal
justice practices. The policy also promotes the effective and responsible use of ALPR systems in support of public
safety efforts and criminal investigations, while protecting individual rights.
Policy Statement
The department shall operate its ALPR systems exclusively for legitimate law enforcement purposes. These
include, but are not limited to, locating stolen vehicles or license plates, identifying vehicles associated with
missing persons or wanted individuals, supporting active criminal investigations, and responding to alerts from
official notifications such as AMBER and SILVER Alerts or terrorist watch lists.
Under no circumstances will ALPR technology be used to monitor constitutionally protected activities, target
individuals based on their speech, or interfere with lawful public behavior. Any unauthorized use or sharing of
ALPR data is strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action or criminal penalties under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Department is committed to providing transparency in our use of ALPR systems by providing a dedicated
Transparency Portal webpage along with providing public education through engagement and the use of social
media platforms.
The Department is committed to following the Code of Virginia §2.2-5517, as amended, which became effective
on July 1, 2025. All officers shall be familiar with this Code and follow it at all times.
Definitions
Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Technology that utilizes high-speed cameras and specialized
software to capture and convert images of vehicle license plates into machine-readable data.
" Hit or Notification Occurs when the system identifies a license plate that matches a record from an
authorized database or hot list.
" Hot list Is a collection of license plates associated with criminal activity or public safety concerns, such
as those from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) or Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN).
The department may also develop a Custom Hot List for vehicles under specific local investigation.
" Query Refers to a user-initiated search of ALPR data.
" Audit trail A system-generated log that documents all access and queries, including user credentials,
date and time, the license plate queried, the stated purpose, and any related case number.
" LPR Administrator Is the person(s) designated to oversee and manage the departments ALPR program.
" Law-enforcement agency Any agency defined under § 9.1-101 of the Code of Virginia.
System Requirements
All ALPR systems deployed by the Department must adhere to specific technical and security standards. Each
vendor must certify in writing that they will not sell or share any system or audit data without the departments
request or consent. System data must be automatically purged after 21 days unless linked to an active criminal
investigation. Audit trail data must be retained for two years, unless a longer retention period is legally
mandated.
Additionally, all systems must conform to the standards set by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency
(VITA), and approved by the Division of Purchases and Supply of the Department of General Services. Databases
used by ALPR systems for notification purposes must be updated at least every 24 hours to ensure accuracy.
Permissible Uses
The use of ALPR systems by the Department shall be limited strictly to approved law enforcement functions.
These include:
" Criminal investigations involving violations of Virginia law or local ordinances where reasonable suspicion
exist;
" Locating missing, endangered, or abducted individuals (Amber and Silver Alerts);
" Responding to alerts related to outstanding warrants, stolen vehicles or plates, and human trafficking
investigations;
" ALPR may also support traffic enforcement activities, provided such use is consistent with state law and
internal department policy.
Data Retention and Sharing
In accordance with state law, ALPR system data shall be retained for no longer than 21 days unless the data are
linked to an ongoing criminal investigation. Audit trail records shall be preserved for two years unless otherwise
required by law.
ALPR data are not subject to public disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Sharing of
ALPR data is restricted to authorized parties, which include other law enforcement agencies, Commonwealths
Attorneys, defense attorneys pursuant to court order, and courts responding to subpoenas or legal requests.
Any unauthorized access or distribution of ALPR data is prohibited and punishable under Virginia law.
In accordance with state law, the department will not share system data with any agency outside the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Department will comply with all reporting requirements of the Virginia State Crime Commission.
Operational Procedures
ALPR units may be deployed on a permanent or temporary basis, but must receive prior approval from the Chief
of Police. Only VCIN-certified personnel who are specifically authorized may access ALPR systems. All access
must occur using individualized login credentials, and permissions must be limited according to the employees
job assignment. Officers are required to log into the ALPR system at the beginning of their shift.
When the ALPR system generates a hit, the officer must visually verify that the observed license plate matches
the system notification. The officer shall confirm license plate of the alert through the NCIC or VCIN database
through the Culpeper County Emergency Communications Center (ECC). A hit from the ALPR system alone does
not constitute reasonable suspicion for enforcement action; confirmation is mandatory.
Hits associated with terrorist watch lists or violent gang databases are to be treated as informational alerts
only, not immediate cause for enforcement.
Investigative Use and Responsibilities
Custom hot list entries must be reviewed and approved by a LPR Administrator or a Supervisor before being
entered into the ALPR system. These entries must be promptly removed once they are no longer relevant to an
active investigation. Investigating officers are responsible for ensuring that any custom entries remain accurate
and necessary. The use of custom hot lists does not replace mandatory NCIC or VCIN entry requirements for
wanted or missing persons.
Training and System Security
All personnel who operate or access ALPR systems must complete training in addition to maintaining current
VCIN certification. The LPR Administrator, in collaboration with the Training Unit, shall coordinate and document
all training activities. Internal department procedures shall prohibit downloading or retaining unrelated ALPR
data, require regular database updates, ensure system access is restricted to authorized personnel, and outline
secure storage and proper destruction of data.
The LPR Administrator shall conduct an internal auditing procedure that occurs at least once every 30 days.
Reporting Requirements
The department shall submit an annual report to the Virginia Department of State Police detailing the number
of ALPR cameras deployed, the specific databases used for notifications, the total number of queries performed
and their purposes, and the demographic data of identified suspects and drivers stopped. The report shall also
include the number of vehicle stops resulting from ALPR hits, any incidents of unauthorized access or misuse,
and legal requests received for system data, including subpoenas, warrants, or Subpoena Duces Tecums.
Public Awareness and Transparency
To foster transparency and public trust, the department will publish this ALPR policy on its official website. The
Department will also release the ALPR data in its annual report, excluding any personal information or sensitive
case details that would compromise ongoing investigations or violate individual privacy rights.
Additionally, the Department will maintain a Transparency Portal website where anyone can view:
" Department policy;
" Review a list of law enforcement agencies where ALPR data is shared;
" Aggregate number of vehicles captured in the prior 30 days;
" Number of hot list hits the past 30 days;
" And the number of queries in the last 30 days.
The Transparency Portal website can be located at:
https://transparency.flocksafety.com/culpeper-va-pd-
Prohibited Uses
Under no circumstances may ALPR systems be used to monitor individuals based on their constitutionally
protected speech or legal activities. The department strictly prohibits using the system for any type of
surveillance without a clear legal basis, or for any form of data mining or information gathering that is not
directly connected to a criminal justice purpose.
Any individual who willfully misuses the ALPR system, or who unlawfully accesses or shares data from the
system, shall be subject to enforcement under Virginia law. Violations may result in Class 1 misdemeanor
charges, the exclusion of improperly obtained evidence from judicial proceedings, and internal disciplinary
actions, up to and including termination.
Policy Exemptions
This policy does not apply to ALPR systems that are operated by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV), traffic enforcement systems not related to criminal investigation, or to other non-criminal justice
applications managed by government entities outside the department.
Permits and Legal Compliance
Before installing ALPR equipment on state-maintained property, the department shall obtain all required
permits from the Town of Culpeper Zoning Department. Vendors contracted to provide ALPR technology must
notify the department immediately upon receiving any legal request for system data, including subpoenas or
search warrants.
By following this policy, the department ensures that its ALPR program is used lawfully, transparently, and
responsibly, in alignment with state laws and departmental standards. This policy is intended to protect the
privacy rights of the public while enhancing the departments ability to safeguard the community and respond
effectively to crime.