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ALPR Policy Overview - Know Your Rights
Below is a more detailed explanation of exactly what officers using the Cedar Rapids Police Department's Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system can and cannot do, with references to the new procedural information.
Responding to ALPR Hits
What They Can Do
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Check Hot Lists Automatically
ALPR systems automatically refresh hot-list data and alert officers if a license plate matches certain criteria (e.g., a stolen vehicle).
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Visually Confirm Plate
If the ALPR alerts (hits on a plate), officers must visually verify the plate on the suspect vehicle matches the system's reading and manually confirm the plate status (e.g., via the MDC or by contacting the CAU).
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Develop Independent Reasonable Suspicion
ALPR hits do not by themselves establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Officers can proceed with a stop only after confirming or reasonably suspecting the occupant or vehicle is linked to a legitimate law enforcement reason.
What They Cannot Do
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Rely on ALPR Hit Alone for a Stop
An ALPR alert by itself is insufficient. Officers must first confirm the plate details and that the occupant is actually the wanted individual.
Identifying Occupants & Conducting Stops
What They Can Do
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Confirm Occupant Identity
Before pulling a vehicle over, officers must have a reasonable belief that the occupant is the actual individual of interest (i.e., the subject listed in the hot list).
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Perform Traffic Stops When Legally Justified
Once there is proper suspicion that the person or vehicle is subject to law enforcement action, officers may initiate a traffic stop.
What They Cannot Do
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Assume Occupants Match Hot List
Officers may not presume everyone inside the vehicle is the same person who triggered the hot-list alert. They must verify occupant identity or at least establish a reasonable belief before a stop.
Manually Entering Plates on Hot Lists
What They Can Do
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Enter Plates for Legitimate Law Enforcement Reasons
Examples include attempt-to-locates, stolen vehicles, or other official alerts.
What They Cannot Do
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Enter Plates for Personal or Non-Official Reasons
All manual entries must have a valid public safety or investigative basis.
Data Storage & Retention
What They Can Do
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Keep ALPR Data for a Limited Time
All ALPR data is stored for no more than 30 days unless it becomes evidence or is specifically required for an investigation.
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Purge Manual Entries Over 90 Days
The ALPR Program Administrators will delete manual entries over 90 days old unless a legitimate reason to keep them is documented.
What They Cannot Do
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Sell, Publish, or Exchange Data for Non-Law-Enforcement Purposes
The policy explicitly forbids commercial or other unauthorized sharing.
Complete Policy Document
For the complete details of the ALPR policy, including all procedures, requirements, and restrictions, please download the full document:
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