Santa Barbara CA ALPR pause pending policy review (2026)
Santa Barbara, CA — Flock ALPR contract ends; City Council votes 5-2 to go without a replacement camera system (Verkada) until a public review of its automated-camera policy (Sept. 2026)
Santa Barbara, CA · Santa Barbara City Council 5-2 vote delaying ALPR replacement pending policy review (Sept. 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- August 23, 2026
- Applies to
- Santa Barbara Police Department; City of Santa Barbara
- Enforced by
- Santa Barbara City Council
Santa Barbara's contract with Flock Safety ended on August 23, 2026. Instead of quickly switching to a new vendor (Verkada), the City Council voted 5-2 in September to go without license-plate-reader cameras while the city publicly reviews its policy on automated cameras, a process that could take a year or more.
Who is protected: Drivers and residents in Santa Barbara
Legal detail
Flock Safety ALPR contract expired Aug. 23, 2026. At the late-August council meeting the council took no vote but directed staff to return for a formal vote delaying a new Verkada contract. Mid-September 2026 (article Wed. Sept. 16; council meets Tuesdays, so likely Sept. 15): 5-2 vote to delay replacement and conduct a public review of the city's automated-camera / surveillance-technology policy before any new contract. Interim effect: SBPD has no ALPR cameras; review could take a year or more. Strength moderate: a pause, not a ban or binding ordinance.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Santa Barbara, CA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | September 15, 2026 |
| Citation | Santa Barbara City Council 5-2 vote delaying ALPR replacement pending policy review (Sept. 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | consumer data privacy · police and surveillance AI · government use of AI |
| News report | Santa Barbara City Council Says No for Now to Automated Cameras, Will Review Policy — Santa Barbara Independent (Sept. 16, 2026) |
Related consumer data privacy rules elsewhere
- Vermont Data Broker Law (H.211) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Chatrie v. United States (Fourth Amendment protection for location… · Blocked / in litigation
- House Bill 2512 — Banning surveillance pricing by rideshare companies · Proposed / pending
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Maine LD 61 (employer surveillance disclosure & prohibition) · In effect
- Washington SHB 1672 (employee monitoring notice, ADS restrictions, emotion AI ban) · In effect
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