Topic
Flock Safety & License Plate Readers
Newport Beach PD operates a network of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) through a contract with Flock Safety. State law is actively being debated, and a separate transparency concern has been publicly raised about how the cameras are used.
Current Status — as of July 2026
NBPD received approval in 2024 for a $1.4 million, five-year contract with Flock Safety for 69 automated license plate readers. CONFIRMEDAtlas of Surveillance (EFF)[1]
State legislation (SB 1013) that would cap ALPR data retention at 30 days and restrict data sharing is pending in the California Assembly as of late June 2026. CONFIRMEDCalifornia Legislature bill history[2]
A separate concern — that stated search reasons in some NBPD Flock queries have implied federal immigration enforcement purposes — has been publicly raised by an ALPR-transparency advocacy group. This is a flagged concern, not a proven violation. It has not been independently confirmed that NBPD data was actually relayed to any federal agency. UNCONFIRMEDadvocacy-group audit; not independently verified[3]
What NBPD has: the Flock Safety contract
According to the Atlas of Surveillance project, run by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the University of Nevada, Reno, Newport Beach Police received approval in 2024 for a five-year contract with Flock Safety, valued at approximately $1.4 million, covering 69 automated license plate reader cameras. Flock cameras photograph vehicle license plates as cars pass and log them into a searchable database that can be queried by law enforcement. CONFIRMEDAtlas of Surveillance / EFF[1]
State law in motion: California SB 1013
California SB 1013, introduced by Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, would cap ALPR data retention at 30 days and restrict how agencies share ALPR data. The bill passed the California Senate in May 2026 and is pending in Assembly committees as of late June 2026. CONFIRMEDCalifornia Legislature bill history[2]
The League of California Cities has publicly opposed the bill, arguing it would hinder investigations into serious crimes including human trafficking. The bill's proponents argue current retention periods create surveillance risks that go beyond the criminal investigations the systems were originally justified for. CONFIRMEDLegiScan bill history[2]
Flagged concern: search reasons implying federal immigration enforcement
Research by a California ALPR-transparency advocacy group found search-reason logs across multiple California agencies — including Newport Beach PD — whose stated reasons for querying Flock camera data implied federal immigration enforcement purposes. Under state law, that would raise potential questions under the California Values Act (SB 54), which restricts local law enforcement participation in federal immigration enforcement, and SB 34, which restricts sharing ALPR data with non-California agencies. [3] [4]
Notes & Sources
Numbered references for the claims above. Numbering restarts on each page.
- [1]
Atlas of Surveillance (EFF / University of Nevada, Reno) — NBPD Flock Safety entry
Newport Beach PD's approved $1.4 million, five-year contract with Flock Safety (2024) for 69 automated license plate readers.
- [2]
California Legislature — SB 1013 (Cervantes) bill history (LegiScan)
SB 1013's proposed 30-day cap on ALPR data retention and restrictions on data sharing, its passage in the California Senate in May 2026, and its pending status in Assembly committees as of late June 2026. The League of California Cities has publicly opposed the bill.
- [3]
Lookout — reporting on an ALPR-transparency advocacy group's audit of California agency Flock search logs
An ALPR-transparency advocacy group's finding that stated search reasons in some California agencies' Flock camera logs — including Newport Beach PD — implied federal immigration enforcement purposes. This is a documented concern from the group's audit; it has not been independently confirmed that NBPD data was actually relayed to federal agencies.
- [4]
California Values Act (SB 54) and SB 34 — state law text
SB 54's restrictions on state and local law enforcement resources being used for federal immigration enforcement, and SB 34's restrictions on sharing ALPR data with non-California agencies.