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CA Public Records Law

California Public Records Act (CPRA)

Gov. Code §§ 7920.000–7930.215

Initial response
10 calendar days
Final response
24 calendar days
Penalties
Fee shifting
Attorney fees
Mandatory
ALPR exemption
None
Burden of proof
On the agency

Response timeline

Agency must respond within 10 calendar days. May extend up to 14 additional days with written notice stating reasons and the expected date of determination. Failure to respond is a constructive denial.

Appeal process

Administrative appeal required?
No, can go directly to court
Appeals body
Direct court action (no administrative appeal required)

Enforcement

Court action
Petition for writ of mandate or injunctive/declaratory relief in Superior Court
Filing fee
~$435
Filing deadline
No specific deadline
Attorney fee trigger
Court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a requester who prevails in litigation. Gov. Code § 7923.115.

Fees

Copy fee
$0.1/page
Search fees
Not allowed
Electronic delivery
Required when requested

Agencies may charge direct costs of duplication only. No search or compilation fees for standard requests. For electronic records requiring data extraction or programming, agencies may charge the cost of producing a copy in electronic format. Electronic delivery is required when requested per § 7922.570(a).

ALPR-specific provisions

Favorable

No ALPR-specific exemption. ALPR data is subject to standard CPRA exemptions only. No ALPR public records exemption, but Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.90.5 (SB 34, 2015) regulates ALPR use: bars selling data or sharing with private entities, requires agencies to post ALPR usage and privacy policies publicly, and mandates reasonable retention periods. Governor Newsom vetoed SB 210 (2024), which would have further restricted police use and sharing of ALPR data. ALPR records are subject to standard CPRA exemptions.

Exemptions to watch for

These are the exemptions agencies most commonly invoke to deny surveillance records requests. Knowing them helps you anticipate and counter a denial.

  • Law enforcement investigation records (Gov. Code § 7923.600)
  • Personal privacy (catch-all balancing test)
  • Endanger safety of individuals
  • Intelligence information or security procedures
  • Draft or preliminary documents (deliberative process)
  • Attorney-client privileged communications
  • Trade secrets

Agencies in California

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Los Angeles County active
San Diego Police Department
San Diego active

Generate a request letter

For Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

When to use

You want to see what the cameras actually recorded — plates, vehicle descriptions, images, timestamps.

Generated letter
To: Records Access Officer From: [Your Name] Date: 2026-08-30 Subject: CPRA Request — ALPR/Flock Safety Detection Data Dear Records Access Officer: Pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code \xA7\xA7 7920.000–7930.215), I request access to and copies of the following records: All automated license plate reader (ALPR) detection logs, images, and associated metadata captured by any ALPR device (including but not limited to Flock Safety cameras) operated by or on behalf of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department during the following time period: Date: [Date] Time: [Start Time] to [End Time] This includes but is not limited to: license plate numbers, vehicle make/model/color, vehicle images, detection timestamps, camera identification numbers, and any alerts generated. I request that records be provided in electronic format pursuant to Gov. Code \xA7 7922.570(a). If fulfilling this request will cost more than $25, please provide a written estimate before proceeding. I expect a determination within ten calendar days as required by Gov. Code \xA7 7922.535. If you deny any portion of this request, please cite the specific statutory exemption and explain how it applies to each withheld record. Thank you for your assistance. [Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Email]