Law enforcement agencies across Southern California have violated state law by sharing automated license plate reader data with federal agencies over 100 times last month. The LAPD and sheriff’s departments in San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties conducted searches on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), according to records obtained by Oakland Privacy and shared with CalMatters.
California’s Senate Bill 34, enacted a decade ago, prohibits state law enforcement from sharing license plate data with out-of-state or federal entities. Despite this, CalMatters reports that the law has been routinely broken.
In 2023, civil liberties groups found that 71 California law enforcement agencies had violated the law. Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an advisory later that year, providing specific guidance on compliance.
The records show that Riverside County data searches often listed “HSI” for Homeland Security Investigations and “CBP” as search purposes. Brian Hofer, former chair of the privacy commission for the City of Oakland, emphasized the need for the attorney general’s office to litigate these violations, stating that sanctuary policies are ineffective if data sharing with federal agencies continues.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, headed by Sheriff Chad Bianco, did not respond to requests for comment. Bianco, a supporter of President Donald Trump, has previously stated his intention to cooperate with ICE within the confines of California’s sanctuary laws. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department acknowledged the issue, stating that further internal review is required and appropriate action will be taken if policies were violated.
Attorney General Bonta’s office has not commented on the situation. However, his previous bulletins remind law enforcement of their obligation to ensure that data collection, storage, and sharing comply with state laws, including Senate Bill 34 and Senate Bill 54, known as the Values Act.
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