City of Monterey to acquire automatic license plate reader cameras for parking enforcement.

Automatic license plate reader cameras have become a source of controversy with camera systems like those from Flock Safety being dropped by cities such as Santa Cruz and Los Altos Hills following public pushback. But the cameras have other uses than assisting law enforcement, such as helping parking attendants determine who parked where and when.

On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Monterey City Council approved a $182,300 contract with ComSonics, Inc. for the purchase and installation of six mobile automatic license plate reading (ALPR) camera systems and services for the city’s parking division.

“The City’s use of ALPR technology supports parking operations by streamlining how enforcement officers verify paid parking, time limits and virtual permits, reducing the need for manual chalking or license plate entry,” Monterey Parking Superintendent Cristie Steffy says.

“The ALPR cameras are used solely for authorized parking and operational purposes and do not provide access to personal information,” Steffy adds.

This acquisition will expand the use of cameras – in place for parking enforcement since 2001 – to all parking division scooters. The city will likely acquire the new cameras in late spring.

According to ComSonics’ website, “Checking permits and tire-chalking manually is overly time-consuming. Operators can mount the AutoVu camera on a vehicle, and automate city or university parking enforcement for many types of permits and time limit zones at once. Operators will become more efficient at covering vast areas, and AutoVu will help improve the collection of unpaid vehicle infractions.”

The city acquired the camera system through an existing competitive bid contract by the City of Seal Beach through a process known as piggybacking. The money comes from the city’s parking fund capital improvement project enterprise fund, and ongoing annual services will be included in the parking division’s operating budget.