The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and surrounding neighbors is the University of Minnesota’s highest priority. Creating a vibrant environment where our community can live, learn and connect requires continuous investment, listening and active partnership. In response to community feedback, the University has made critical investments and expanded safety initiatives across our Twin Cities campus.
Thanks to these collaborative efforts—and dedicated resources in high-activity areas like Dinkytown—we are seeing encouraging progress. Maintaining this momentum requires a multi-layered approach that pairs increased officer presence with modern safety tools. Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) serve as one objective resource within this broader framework, helping UMPD gather critical evidence to solve and prevent crimes without compromising individual privacy.
Specifically, license plate reader technology assists officers in recovering stolen vehicles, identifying cars connected to violent offenses, supporting the apprehension of fleeing suspects, aiding violent crime investigations, and locating missing persons. Leveraging this technology also allows officers to intercept criminal activity before it escalates.
“Our priority every day is to ensure our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors feel safe and supported across our campus and surrounding neighborhoods,” said UMPD Chief Michael Davis. “Tools like license plate readers are another resource that help our officers solve and intercept serious crimes, while still upholding strict privacy protections and rigorous oversight that reflect our community’s expectations.”
FAQs
Why does UMPD have license plate readers?
Why does UMPD have license plate readers?
License plate readers are an invaluable tool to extend the reach of UMPD, assisting our officers in identifying and apprehending stolen vehicles, which can often be involved in other crimes. They have been integral in the apprehension of fleeing suspects in cases involving deadly assault, guns, theft, domestic violence, and other felony offenses. They also aid in missing-person investigations.
What data do UMPD’s license plate readers collect?
What data do UMPD’s license plate readers collect?
License plate readers capture objective, vehicle-focused data only - limited to:
License plate numbers.
Date, time and location of data.
Images of license plates, vehicles and areas surrounding the vehicle.
In strict accordance with Minnesota law, UMPD technology does not use facial recognition, motion tracking, or gunshot detection. They are never used to monitor or enforce minor traffic or parking offenses.
How do the cameras work in practice?
How do the cameras work in practice?
The ALPR system automatically alerts UMPD officers when a passing license plate matches an active record in a state or national crime database (e.g., stolen vehicles, felony warrants, or AMBER Alerts for missing persons). By UMPD policy, officers must independently verify all system alerts before taking any law enforcement action.
Does UMPD allow the data to be used for immigration enforcement?
Does UMPD allow the data to be used for immigration enforcement?
No. ALPR data is used strictly for authorized public safety and criminal investigative purposes. UMPD policy explicitly prohibits using ALPR data for immigration enforcement, harassment, traffic enforcement, personal use, or bias-based policing based on protected characteristics.
How does UMPD manage and govern ALPR data?
How does UMPD manage and govern ALPR data?
UMPD maintains rigorous oversight standards to protect individual privacy and prevent misuse:
- Access:
- Designated officers undergo training before being permitted to operate ALPR equipment or access ALPR data.
- Access is restricted to Minnesota law enforcement agencies following a thorough review of their request, which must demonstrate a legitimate public safety or investigative purpose. Out-of-state agencies are only granted access on a case-by-case basis following a heightened review.
- Additionally, UMPD policy prohibits the technology’s use for immigration enforcement.
- Every search conducted in the ALPR system requires an offense type, case number and specific reason for a traceable audit conducted by law enforcement leadership.
- Auditing: By policy, UMPD supervisors regularly review access entries to ensure acceptable system use. Search logs are audited monthly by command staff.
- Data Ownership & Purging: All data is owned exclusively by UMPD and automatically purged after 30 days, unless tied to an active, ongoing criminal investigation.
- Enforcement: Any unauthorized use or misuse of the system is subject to disciplinary action, up to termination and potential criminal prosecution.
How has license plate reader technology impacted safety on and near the Twin Cities campus?
How has license plate reader technology impacted safety on and near the Twin Cities campus?
Between Sept. 1, 2025, and Sept. 1, 2026, UMPD utilized ALPR data in 64 specific cases, including:
- 29 Auto Theft Cases: Successfully recovered 18 stolen vehicles (10 by UMPD, 8 by partner agencies).
- 7 Hit-and-Run Incidents: Provided critical evidence identifying suspect vehicles.
- 7 Assault & Robbery Cases: Aided in identifying drive-by shooting suspects and apprehending armed violent offenders without incident.
- 4 Domestic Assault Cases
- 3 Robbery Cases
- Welfare Checks: Located a missing, suicidal individual in time to provide emergency medical transport.