On July 14, 2026, I made the following Public Records Act request of the City of Visalia, and the Visalia Police Department:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act (CPRA), California Government Code § 7920.000 et seq., I am writing to request copies of public records held by the City of Visalia and the Visalia Police Department (VPD) regarding the integration, access, sharing, or use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems owned, operated, or deployed by certain private-sector entities.
Specifically, I request copies of all records, regardless of physical form or characteristics, from January 1, 2023, to the present, relating to the following three categories of private ALPR deployment:
1. Visalia Economic Development Corporation (VEDC) ALPR Systems
Agreements and Authorizations: Any Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), contracts, operational agreements, data-sharing agreements, or software integration permissions allowing the Visalia Police Department (VPD) to access, receive, search, or query ALPR data, logs, “hot lists,” or real-time alerts generated by cameras owned, leased, or managed by the VEDC (including those deployed in the Visalia Industrial Park).
Correspondence: All correspondence (including emails, text messages, and written memos) between the City of Visalia officials, staff, or representatives, VPD personnel and representatives, contractors, or board members of the VEDC (including but not limited to Executive Director Bruce Nicotero) regarding the installation, funding, maintenance, or law enforcement usage of VEDC-managed ALPR cameras.
Locations: Physical location of all cameras to which VPD has been granted access.
2. Home Depot Corporation ALPR Systems
Data-Sharing & Integration: Any agreements, MOUs, API integration credentials, or authorizations (via third-party platforms such as Flock Safety, Vigilant Solutions, or similar vendors) enabling VPD to query or receive automatic alerts from ALPR/surveillance systems operating at or around the Visalia Home Depot location (located at 3500 W. Orchard Ave.).
Correspondence: All communications between City staff or VPD personnel and Home Depot corporate security, store management, or representing investigators concerning ALPR data access, direct feeds, or digital “hot list” coordination.
3. Lowe’s Corporation ALPR Systems
Data-Sharing & Integration: Any agreements, MOUs, API integration credentials, or authorizations enabling VPD to query or receive automatic alerts from ALPR/surveillance systems operating at or around the Visalia Lowe’s locations (located at 1400 S. Demaree St. and 3020 N. Demaree St.).
Correspondence: All communications between City Staff, VPD personnel, and Lowe’s corporate security, store management, or representing investigators concerning ALPR data access, direct feeds, or digital “hot list” coordination.
Format of Records: I request that these records be provided in their original electronic format (e.g., PDF, Excel, .msg, or .eml) to avoid unnecessary printing costs and to preserve metadata.
Fee Waiver/Limitation: If there are any administrative fees associated with searching or duplicating these records, please notify me before they are incurred. (As these records concern public safety technology oversight and civil liberties, they are in the public interest, and I request a waiver of any fees).
Severability and Redactions: If the City determines that certain portions of the requested records are exempt from disclosure (such as specific law enforcement investigative techniques under Gov. Code § 7923.600), please disclose all reasonably segregable, non-exempt portions of the records with appropriate redactions, accompanied by a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption.
As provided by Government Code § 7922.535, I look forward to receiving your determination on this request within 10 days of receipt.
On July 28, 2026, I received this notice (a bit past their ten-day required response window):
To whom it may concern:
The Visalia Police Department is diligently working on your request. Per Government Code 7922.535(b) we will be utilizing the fourteen-day extension to fulfill your request. Thank you for your patience.
July 28, 2026, 4:42pm by Staff
Today, August 10, 2026, I received this email:
They’re still looking, by golly!
Lowe’s shopping center, on South Mooney Blvd, Visalia. Image from Deflock.org.
Lowe’s Shopping center, Riggin and Demaree, Visalia. Image from Deflock.org.
I don’t know if the Visalia Home Depot has cameras, but I’ve read they grant law enforcement access to those they do have, so I want to see if there’s an agreement with Home Depot about it.
More tick tock tick Flock.
As is my practice, here are the previous blog posts about Flock Automated License Plate Readers in Visalia, California.
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