San Marcos residents raise alarm over ALPR data retention after March hit-and-run

Residents at the March 25 San Marcos City Council meeting urged the city to clarify how long automatic license plate reader (ALPR) data is retained after a recent hit-and-run that severely injured a 23-year-old woman.

Public commenter Audra and Sarah Steadman, the injured woman’s mother, told the council the family was told by a city engineer that ALPR footage is available for only about one hour after an incident. Audra said the crash occurred on March 8 and called the reported retention window “absolutely ridiculous,” arguing the limitation would hinder investigations. “If it’s there for an hour, that means that you have 60 minutes to go and check it knowing that it’s happened,” Audra said.

Steadman described her daughter’s injuries and ongoing recovery: the daughter suffered a broken humerus and a broken left femur and is currently using a wheelchair. Steadman said she had contacted city staff after the crash and asked for help locating relevant camera footage. “I did reach out to your office directly within a few days after it happened, and I never heard back,” Steadman said.

Mayor Jones responded that San Marcos is a sheriff-contract city and that criminal investigations, including hit-and-run cases, are handled by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Jones said city staff would collect the family’s contact information and request that the sheriff’s department follow up. The council did not take formal action on the retention policy during the meeting.

Speakers at the meeting called for clearer transparency about the ALPR system’s data retention policies and for city staff and the sheriff’s office to coordinate with injured residents. Audra urged the council to suspend the ALPR program if the cameras cannot provide usable evidence beyond a short window; Steadman asked for help in expediting the investigation into her daughter’s crash.

No ordinance, policy change, or formal vote on ALPR retention was recorded during the meeting. Council members and staff indicated they would pass the family’s information to the city clerk and request sheriff follow-up.