Larimer County approves Homeland Security grant application to maintain ALPR camera system after sheriff's briefing

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 26 approved a consent-item Homeland Security grant application to help fund the county's automated license-plate reader (ALPR) camera system, after Larimer County Sheriff John Fan briefed the board and answered commissioners' questions about privacy and data use.

Sheriff John Fan said the grant request would help maintain the county's existing ALPR capabilities for about three years. "It's about $130,000 a year," he said, adding that the three-year cost would be roughly $320,000—$360,000 depending on final budgeting. Fan described the system as still-image cameras that "do not record audio," and said, "We own the data. Flock does not have access to the data." He said the county generally deletes un-downloaded data after 30 days, noting state law sets a maximum one-year retention.

The presentation and follow-up questions focused on how the technology works, how the county manages access, and whether the system could be misused. Fan described ALPRs as an investigative tool that provides leads, not a standalone basis for arrest: "It just gives us a direction to go," he said, adding that deputies still need to develop probable cause through conventional investigation. He also told the board the county shares ALPR information with regional partners and that, nationally, many agencies use similar systems.

Commissioner John Kefalas, who asked that the grant…