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Woodside council accepts ALPR audit but asks for stronger documentation of compliance
Summary
The Woodside Town Council accepted the quarterly automated license-plate reader (ALPR) report from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office but several council members and residents pressed for clearer written evidence the system is being used only as allowed by Woodside policy and state guidance.
The Woodside Town Council accepted a quarterly report on the town’s automated license-plate reader (ALPR) system on June 24 but Council members and public speakers pressed the sheriff’s office and town staff for clearer, written proof the system is being used in accordance with Woodside’s policy.
Council members heard a summary of a sheriff’s audit that reviewed a random sample of plate-searches. Sergeant Pat Taylor’s office reported that the sample searches complied with the town’s policy, and the sheriff’s representative told the council the sheriff’s office policy aligns with Woodside’s rules for authorized use and data sharing.
“The sheriff’s office policy is actually pretty much directly in line with the town of Woodside’s policy,” the sheriff’s representative said during the meeting. Town Attorney Jean told the council that sharing ALPR data with federal immigration authorities would be prohibited under the town’s policy and that there is an Attorney General enforcement bulletin reinforcing state restrictions.
Despite those assurances, several council members and residents said the quarterly memo and the sample audit were not sufficient to demonstrate compliance. Council members asked staff and the sheriff’s office to provide additional documentation—training acknowledgements, download logs, and larger-sample reporting—so the town can independently verify that data collected by Woodside cameras is accessed only for authorized purposes.
Resident commenters also raised broader concerns about whether county and other California agencies that run searches could later redistribute data to outside entities. The sheriff’s representative said the sheriff’s office restricts searchable access to in-state agencies and that administrative records (for example, download logs) exist and can be examined, but that some details will require follow-up with the system administrator, Sergeant Pat Taylor.
The council voted to accept the quarterly report. Council members said they expect more rigorous reporting at future meetings so the town can “stand up and say, with absolute certainty” that the ALPR system is operating under Woodside’s policy.
Town staff and the sheriff’s office agreed to follow up with additional records and to return with documentation showing training acknowledgements and records of searches and downloads.
