OAKLAND — Building on public safety investments in Oakland and the East Bay, Governor Gavin Newsom on Mar 29 announced the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has entered into a contract with Flock Safety to install a network of approximately 480 high-tech cameras in the City of Oakland and on state freeways in the East Bay to combat criminal activity and freeway violence. The camera network will use a patented technology that allows law enforcement agencies to identify vehicle attributes beyond license plate numbers, enabling the CHP, the Oakland Police Department, and allied agencies to search for vehicles suspected to be linked to crimes and receive real-time alerts about their movement.

 “This investment marks another step forward in our commitment to bolstering public safety and tackling organized crime and roadway violence in Oakland and across California. With the installation of this 480 high-tech camera network, we’re equipping law enforcement with the tools they need to effectively combat criminal activity and hold perpetrators accountable — building safer, stronger communities for all Californians,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

The partnership with the city will result in the deployment of approximately 480 crime-fighting cameras. 290 of the cameras are expected to be deployed on and around surface streets in the City of Oakland and 190 cameras will be deployed along state highways in the East Bay. The camera network allows for improved vehicle recognition, enabling law enforcement to search for crime-linked vehicles by vehicle type, make, color, license plate state, missing/covered plates, and other unique features (e.g., bumper stickers, decals, and roof racks). The system also enables real-time crime alerts, alerting authorities when a suspected crime-linked vehicle is spotted by the network.

The cameras will assist law enforcement in addressing crime while protecting privacy interests — improving public safety while balancing privacy protections. The network will employ a limited 28-day retention period, camera footage will not be disclosed to third parties beyond California law enforcement, and the network will be compliant with recent legal bulletins issued by the California Department of Justice to ensure the storage, collection, sharing, and use of the data is consistent with California law.

（photo source：Office of Governor Newsroom）