Take Action in New Canaan

Subject: Request for ALPR Policy & Public Hearing — New Canaan Resident

To: First Selectman, Police Chief, Town Council members (see contacts below)

Body:

Dear [Official's Name],

We are New Canaan residents writing about the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras deployed throughout our town. According to open data, there are at least 26 ALPR cameras in New Canaan, primarily Flock Safety cameras operated by the New Canaan Police Department.

We are concerned that this surveillance infrastructure was deployed without:
• A public hearing or community input
• A published policy governing use, retention, sharing, and access
• Civilian oversight or independent audits
• Clear limits on data sharing with federal agencies (ICE, FBI) or private vendors

We respectfully request:
1. A public hearing on ALPR use in New Canaan before any contract renewals or expansions
2. A written policy covering retention limits (recommend ≤72 hours), access controls, sharing restrictions, and audit requirements
3. Transparency — annual public reporting on camera count, "hits," arrests, and any misuse investigations
4. Vendor accountability — contracts that ensure town ownership of data and no confidentiality clauses blocking FOIA

Neighboring towns like Fairfield are grappling with these same issues. The DeFlock Fairfield community has obtained contracts via FOIA revealing concerning terms around data ownership and sharing. New Canaan should learn from their experience and act proactively.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further. Thank you for your time and service to our community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address / Neighborhood]
[Your Email / Phone]

To: New Canaan Police Department, Records Division
174 South Ave, New Canaan, CT 06840
Email: policerecords@newcanaanct.gov

Subject: FOIA Request — ALPR Camera Records, Policies & Contracts

Body:

Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (CGS §1-200 et seq.), We request the following records regarding Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems used by the New Canaan Police Department:

1. Camera Inventory: Complete list of all ALPR cameras (fixed, mobile, trailer-mounted) including locations, installation dates, manufacturers, and models.

2. Current Policies: All written policies, procedures, directives, or general orders governing ALPR use, including: data retention periods, access controls, authorized uses, prohibited uses, audit requirements, and sharing protocols.

3. Vendor Contracts: All contracts, agreements, MOUs, purchase orders, and invoices with ALPR vendors (including but not limited to Flock Safety, Axon Enterprise, Vigilant Solutions, Motorola Solutions, Genetec, or any other provider), including all amendments and renewals.

4. Data Sharing Agreements: All MOUs, agreements, or policies governing sharing of ALPR data with: other law enforcement agencies (local, state, federal), fusion centers (including CTIC), regional task forces, private companies, or any other entity.

5. Audit Logs: Records of all ALPR database queries/access for the past 24 months, including: date, time, querying officer/employee, purpose/case number, and license plate queried.

6. ALPR "Hits" & Outcomes: Statistics for the past 24 months: total plate reads, number of "hits" (matches to hotlists), resulting arrests, charges filed, and dispositions.

7. Training Materials: All training materials provided to officers/staff on ALPR use, policy, and legal requirements.

8. Privacy Impact Assessment: Any privacy impact assessment, risk assessment, or similar analysis conducted prior to or after ALPR deployment.

We request these records in electronic format (PDF or original digital format). If any records are claimed exempt, please provide a detailed exemption log specifying the statutory basis for each withheld record or portion thereof.

We are willing to pay reasonable copying fees up to $25. Please notify me if costs will exceed this amount.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone]
[Date]

"Good evening, [Chair/Members]. My name is [Name], I live at [Address/Neighborhood].

I'm speaking about the 26 ALPR cameras in New Canaan. These cameras scan every passing vehicle, creating a database of innocent residents' movements. They were deployed without a public hearing, without a published policy, and without civilian oversight.

I'm asking for three things:
1. A public hearing on ALPRs before any contract renewals.
2. A written policy with retention limits, access controls, and sharing restrictions.
3. Annual transparency reports on camera count, hits, and audits.

Fairfield obtained their Axon contract via FOIA and found concerning data-sharing terms. New Canaan should act now—before we're locked into similar agreements.

Thank you for your time."