Coachella strikes down proposal to install on license plate reading cameras
The Coachella City Council struck down a proposal to install license plate reading cameras at major intersections throughout the city's entrance/exit points.
In a 3-2 vote on Wednesday, councilmembers passed a motion to oppose the item and not bring it back for further discussion.
The city looked at various options which would've installed either 30, 50, or 70 cameras
Law enforcement officials argued that Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology helps agencies across the nation, including in Riverside County, aid in criminal investigations and lifesaving emergencies.
"Law enforcement efforts to solve and combat crime are most successful as regional collaborative efforts. ALPR allows an opportunity to participate and solve crime regionally and locally," reads
The issue raised debate between the balance of public safety and privacy.
"It kind of just feels like against our civil liberties that's all. It's hard to balance the one hand, the public safety tool. The other, civil liberties and privacy that people deserve," said Mayor Steven Hernandez. "If you're not a criminal, if you're not being looked at then you shouldn't have a record of what I'm doing."
License plate reader technology is in every valley city except Coachella and Desert Hot Springs.
