10/22/2026
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl responds to the City Council’s Budget and Government Efficiency Committee regarding automated license plate readers:
“Removing a proven public safety tool from our streets is a loss for San Diego communities.
We don’t have to guess whether ALPR helps solve crimes. We’ve seen it work in more than 900 cases, from stolen vehicles and kidnappings to murders.
For years, San Diego has shown that this technology can be used responsibly, with strict rules, regular audits and strong safeguards to protect people’s privacy. We’ve put in the work to build that system.
Yet we’re being told that removing ALPR will somehow improve police staffing, ease fears about immigration enforcement or fix the City’s budget problems. It won’t accomplish any of those things.
What it will do is make it harder for our officers to solve crimes, find suspects and deliver justice for victims. That’s what’s at stake.”