LA MESA, Calif. — November 14, 2026. The La Mesa Police Department is reconsidering how it shares automated license plate reader data after an investigation found that law enforcement agencies elsewhere in California queried the city’s camera network millions of times.
According to original reporting by Times of San Diego, La Mesa has 20 automated license plate reader cameras operated through Flock Safety. During a seven-month period from July 2025 through early February 2026, other participating law-enforcement agencies generated more than 3 million network searches involving La Mesa’s cameras.
What the numbers do—and do not—mean
The reported number reflects database queries through a statewide shared network, not proof that 3 million separate La Mesa drivers were individually targeted. An outside agency can run a single query across numerous participating camera systems at once. According to the investigation, the local police department itself made only about six searches per day on average during the comparison period.
What could change?
The police department says it is reviewing whether to restrict which agencies may access its information or withdraw from the shared state network. Its announced plans also include data-use agreements with outside agencies that explain why searches are performed and commitments to authorized law-enforcement uses.
Police say license plate readers can help locate vehicles connected to crimes. Critics of broad network access raise questions about oversight, privacy and transparency. No final policy change has been announced in the reporting reviewed for this update.
Questions worth asking locally
Residents may want to know which departments can search La Mesa camera records, how long data are retained, how improper use would be audited and when the proposed oversight rules will be made public. LaMesa.com will follow any official decision and provide links to the underlying policy when available.
Original reporting: Times of San Diego, Nov. 10, 2026; underlying October investigation.
