Burlingame and Hillsborough police departments are among 17 San Mateo County law enforcement agencies with deficiencies in how they manage their automated license plate reader cameras, according to a Civil Grand Jury report released Monday, Aug. 3.

The report, titled "Is Our Flock of ALPR Cameras Properly Tended?", found continuing problems in three areas across the county's agencies: policy maintenance, audit practices and oversight of in-state data-sharing relationships. The more than 580 Flock Safety cameras countywide capture plate numbers, vehicle make, model, color and other characteristics of passing cars.

The grand jury found that most agencies did not document criteria, process or controls governing in-state data sharing well enough to demonstrate compliance with California law, SFGate reported. All but one of the agencies reviewed shared data with private university security departments without establishing whether those entities qualified as public agencies, a potential violation of state restrictions on ALPR data sharing.

Burlingame and Hillsborough police are both among the 17 agencies the report covers. Neither department made the list of four agencies praised for strong transparency and audit practices. That recognition went to Atherton, Belmont, Pacifica and Woodside.

The jury did credit agencies countywide for meaningful progress over the past year, particularly in eliminating out-of-state data sharing. Flock Safety implemented changes during 2025 that improved compliance with California law, including ending new out-of-state sharing relationships.

Neither Burlingame PD nor Hillsborough PD had publicly responded to the report as of Thursday, Aug. 6. Under California law, the Burlingame City Council and Hillsborough Town Council must formally respond to the grand jury's findings within 90 days of publication, putting the deadline at approximately Nov. 1. San Mateo County Sheriff Ken Binder must respond within 60 days.

The Sheriff's Office said in a statement to SFGate that it "is committed to ensuring the technology is being used for its intended purpose and has a strict ALPR policy governing its use."

The 19-member grand jury, led by Foreperson Michael Kovalich and Foreperson Pro Tem Liz Figueroa, reviewed contracts, policy documents and audit reports from each agency and interviewed officers and Flock Safety representatives.

As we reported Aug. 5, the Burlingame City Council's next meeting is set for Aug. 17. The full report is available on the San Mateo County Superior Court website.