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FOR FLOCK'S SAKE

ALPR records in Oregon

Ask your police department or sheriff what their license-plate cameras log, who they share with, and what they cost. A starting point, not legal advice.

Public records law

Oregon public records law

ORS ch. 192

Response deadline

Within 5 business days the agency must acknowledge the request or complete its response.

Checked against the official statute text on 2026-10-13. Laws change, so read the source before you rely on it.

Fees & appeals

  • Set a fee cap in your letter and ask for an estimate before any work that would exceed it.
  • Ask for electronic copies. They're usually cheaper than paper.
  • If anything is withheld, ask for the specific exemption and the reasonably segregable parts.
  • If you're denied or the deadline passes, ask the agency in writing how to appeal; the appeal route is set out in Oregon's statute (source).

General guidance, not state-specific fee or appeal rules.

What to ask for

  • Search audit logs

    Every ALPR search: date, the officer or agency, the plate or reason entered, and the case number. This shows who is looking, and why.

  • Contract & invoices

    The vendor agreement (Flock Safety or other), renewals, purchase orders and what it costs.

  • Retention policy

    How long plate reads are kept and the records retention schedule that applies.

  • Sharing list

    Every outside agency or organization that can search your local cameras, and the ones your agency can search.

  • Hot lists

    Which watch lists are loaded into the system, who can add plates, on what basis, and how many alerts fired.

  • Policy & camera list

    The written use policy or general order, and the number and locations of cameras.

Your Oregon request

Using ORS ch. 192. Deadline: Within 5 business days the agency must acknowledge the request or complete its response. State guide →

Every state's law differs on deadlines, fees and how to submit. Find yours in the Reporters Committee Open Government Guide. Not legal advice. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

[Your Name]
[Address · Email · Phone]
October 13, 2026

To: Public Records Officer, [Agency name]

Re: Public records request: automated license plate reader (ALPR) records

Under the Oregon public records law (ORS ch. 192 and related provisions), I request copies of the following records, in electronic format where available:

1. All contracts, purchase orders, renewals, and invoices with any ALPR vendor (including Flock Safety) from January 1, 2024 to present.
2. Any policy, general order, or procedure governing ALPR use, data retention, sharing, and access.
3. A list of outside agencies or organizations with which ALPR data is shared, or which have access to your ALPR system or network.
4. Audit logs, search logs, or audit reports of ALPR queries from January 1, 2024 to present, including the stated reason for each search where recorded.
5. The number and locations of ALPR cameras operated by or on behalf of the agency.
6. Any records retention schedule that applies to ALPR data.
7. Any hot lists, watch lists, or alert lists loaded into the ALPR system (or records describing who may add entries and on what basis), and the number of hot-list alerts from January 1, 2024 to present.

If any portion is withheld, please cite the specific exemption and release all reasonably segregable portions. If fees will exceed $25, please contact me before proceeding. I request a fee waiver because this information is in the public interest and is not sought for commercial purposes.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
Open in email

City files in Oregon

Each city file links to a request prefilled for that city. Find the exact agency name and records portal on the agency's website.

Oregon ALPR law

ORS § __. ___ [Added by 2026 c. 77 § 4 to 9]

Before deploying or using an ALPR, law enforcement agencies must establish and publish policies and procedures for the use of an ALPR and the use, storage, and retention of captured data. Policies must include requirements for system and data security, access controls, hot list of accuracy, authorized user training, data retention and destruction, audit processes, and prohibition on use that would violate state law. Law enforcement agencies may only use ALPR systems for specified purposes including identifying vehicles used in crimes, vehicles registered to persons with outstanding warrants, vehicles associated with missing persons, uninsured vehicles, unregistered vehicles, parking regulation and access control. Data not related to court proceedings or ongoing investigations must be retained for no more than 30 days, while data related to court proceedings or investigations may be retained for the same period as other evidence. Agencies may compare data only with specified databases including Department of Transportation records, NCIC databases, Law Enforcement Data System, FBI records, and hot lists that are frequently updated. Officers must include specific information in search entry logs including authorized user identifiers, employing agency, search inputs, date and time, case numbers, law enforcement purpose, and crime type if applicable. Officers must visually confirm vehicle characteristics to match alerts before conducting traffic stops based on automated alerts. Law enforcement agencies may not provide access to data to any governmental entity or agency not created pursuant to the Oregon Constitution or state laws except under specified circumstances. Contracts with third party vendors must specify that data is the agency's property and not owned by the vendor, vendor access requests including warrants and subpoenas must be directed exclusively to the law enforcement agency, data must be encrypted using end-to-end encryption, vendor must comply with FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Security Policy, and vendor may be held liable for misuse or improper release of captured license plate data. Requires a vendor audit process. Prohibits vendors from accessing, disclosing, selling, sharing or otherwise using data. Creates a civil action for an individual to sue the vendor if data is disclosed, shared, sold, etc. Provides exceptions for existing contracts for ALPR systems and makes the law applicable upon the expiration of the existing contract, prohibits extension or renewal of existing agreements.

Summary quoted from NCSL, Automated License Plate Readers: State Statutes, updated September 28, 2026. Not legal advice; read the statute.