ACLU Sues Over SDPD's License-Plate Reader Network as Council Eyes Housing Report
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The ACLU filed suit against the City of San Diego and SDPD alleging that the department's use of the Flock automated license-plate reader system violates privacy protections embedded in the California Constitution. The City Council had previously voted to retain the Flock contract — a deliberate choice — but surviving a constitutional challenge requires a separate legal argument.
SDPD's own data, first publicly disclosed in late September, showed 114,692 searches of the license-plate reader network across roughly 500 reader locations during just the first seven months of 2026. Nearly 4,000 of those searches were categorized simply as 'other' with no further explanation. California's constitution imposes stronger privacy protections than its federal counterpart, and courts in the state have applied those protections to surveillance technology in ways that create meaningful legal exposure for municipalities.
The City Council's next regular meeting is Monday, October 5th, at 10 a.m. Among the items scheduled is the fiscal year 2026 Affordable Housing Fund annual report, covering July 2025 through June 2026. The report is expected to detail revenue, investments, units assisted, rents and sale prices of assisted homes, and additional funding leveraged — a concrete accountability document for a city where the August median home price approached one million dollars. The Council will also hear an environmental determination appeal for a proposed 2,653-square-foot single-family home at 11370 Paymogo Court in Rancho Peñasquitos.
At the county level, the Board of Supervisors holds its General Legislative Session Tuesday, October 6th, at 9 a.m., with the Sheriff's Department's formal response to grand-jury findings expected on the agenda. The County mailed ballots and opened more than 150 drop boxes on October 2nd. Among the measures voters will decide is Measure A, which would establish independent oversight offices, add spending-disclosure requirements, and extend supervisor term limits from two four-year terms to three.