San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has publicly reaffirmed his administration's commitment to using automated license plate reader systems, pointing to their role in criminal investigations and property recovery as evidence of their value to the community.
According to Gloria, the technology has contributed to close to 900 criminal investigations conducted by local law enforcement. Additionally, residents have been able to recover more than $8.7 million worth of stolen property with assistance from the surveillance systems.
The mayor emphasized that the city has implemented strong safeguards around the use of such technology. San Diego's TRUST Ordinance created a framework requiring public review procedures, independent privacy monitoring, and explicit guidelines for how surveillance tools are assessed and deployed by city agencies.
Gloria stressed that protecting public safety and preserving individual privacy can coexist when appropriate standards are in place. He noted that the city has enhanced its protections through regular audits, transparent public reporting, and stricter limitations on who can access collected data.
The mayor acknowledged that improvements should be made when necessary and said technology vendors must be held responsible for their systems. He concluded by stating his administration remains dedicated to both equipping police with effective investigative resources and safeguarding residents' civil liberties.