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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWritten Communication - PC - SheltonOutlook Public Comment — Demand for Immediate Shutdown and Permanent Removal of Chula Vista’s ALPR Sur veillance Cameras From JeffShelton3 < Date Fri 11/13/2026 12:25 AM To CityClerk <CityClerk@chulavistaca.gov> WARNING - This email originated from outside the City of Chula Vista. Do not click any links and do not open attachments unless you can confirm the sender. PLEASE REPORT SUSPICIOUS EMAILS BY USING THE PHISH ALERT REPORT BUTTON or to reportphishing@chulavistaca.gov To: Mayor John McCann and Members of the Chula Vista City Council Meeting Date: November 17, 2026 Mayor McCann and Members of the City Council, I am a Chula Vista resident, and I am calling upon this City Council to take immediate action to permanently eliminate automated license plate reader (ALPR) surveillance throughout our city. The government should not be systematically recording the movements of residents who are simply driving to work, visiting family, attending appointments, or going about their daily lives without suspicion of criminal activity. These cameras create a surveillance infrastructure capable of documenting where vehicles travel, when they travel, and potentially revealing patterns of personal behavior. I fundamentally oppose this type of government surveillance, regardless of which company manufactures or operates the cameras. The controversy surrounding ALPR surveillance in neighboring San Diego demonstrates why residents should question the continued expansion of this technology. Recent reporting concerning the San Diego Police Department’s use of ALPR data in internal investigations raises additional concerns about the purposes for which these systems may be used. Chula Vista should not wait for a similar controversy before taking decisive action. I am not requesting additional privacy safeguards, revised operating policies, independent audits, or shorter data-retention periods. I am demanding the complete and permanent removal of Chula Vista’s ALPR surveillance infrastructure. Specifically, I call upon the City Council to: 1. Immediately deactivate all City-operated ALPR cameras and discontinue routine vehicle-location surveillance. 2. Terminate all contracts supporting the operation of ALPR surveillance systems. 3. Physically remove the cameras and associated surveillance equipment from public infrastructure. 4. Prohibit replacement of these systems with equivalent technology from Flock Safety, Motorola/Vigilant, Axon, or any other vendor. 5. Preserve historical search logs, audit records, and external-agency access records subject to public-records requests, litigation holds, and applicable legal retention requirements. I recognize that this matter is not listed as an action item on today’s agenda. Therefore, I formally request that the Council direct the appropriate process for placing the permanent elimination of ALPR surveillance on an upcoming public meeting agenda. Public safety is important, but it should not come at the expense of everyone’s ability to travel throughout their community without routine government tracking. Freedom of movement should not require submitting to a government surveillance network. I respectfully request that each Councilmember publicly state whether they support the permanent shutdown and physical removal of Chula Vista’s ALPR cameras. Chula Vista residents deserve a clear answer, and I urge this Council to act. Respectfully, Jeff Shelton Chula Vista Resident Sent from Proton Mail for iOS.