License Plate Recognition (LPR)

With the use of License Plate Recognition (LPR) Software, SDSU requires a valid parking permit to be properly registered to a vehicle's license plate at all times. Vehicle license plate information is required when purchasing a permit through the Transportation Portal, one of the pay stations on campus or through the PayByPhone app.
LPR is an advanced parking technology that provides virtual permits through a vehicle's license plate instead of paper permits or plastic hangtags.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors will register their vehicle license plate information into one of the parking systems used by SDSU. The LPR software then combines this information with the individual's payment and generates a virtual permit linked to that vehicle's license plate number. 

When a vehicle parks on campus, the license plate is captured by cameras mounted on enforcement vehicles. When read, the numbers of your plate are automatically referenced against the parking database to verify a valid permit and the proper parking privileges for the location. If the license plate and vehicle information are not associated with a valid virtual permit or the vehicle is parked in an in an invalid area, then the vehicle will be subject to a citation.

LPR scans vehicles and will record the following:

  • license plate image
  • license plate number
  • license plate state
  • date
  • time
  • location

The information collected will only be referenced against the campus database for the strict purposes of parking enforcement and management. It may also be used to identify stolen or wanted vehicles as allowed by law. The enforcement rules will not change because of LPR, including the process to appeal a citation.

Collected information and records will not be available to the public nor disseminated to persons not authorized to access or use the information. To obtain a copy of the Usage and Privacy Policy, please contact Parking & Transportation Services at [email protected]. 

Information collected will be stored for no longer than 30 days.

Students

  • Students may register up to two vehicles through the Transportation Portal.
  • Students should manage and add or remove vehicles as needed.

Faculty and Staff

  • Faculty and staff may register up to five vehicles through the Transportation Potal.
  • Faculty and staff should manage and add or remove vehicles as needed.

Only one vehicle is permitted under the permit at any given time on campus. If additional vehicles under the registered permit need to park on campus, an additional permit will need to be purchased to avoid a "Shared Permit" citation.

Temporary Plates

  • California issues temporary plates for new vehicles. Please enter your temporary plate when registering your vehicle with your purchased permit. Once your permanent plate is received, complete the License Plate Change Request Form to update your license plate.

Rental Vehicles

  • Rental vehicles may be registered and linked to your permit through the Transportation Portal. Once the rental vehicle is returned, please remember to remove it from your Transportation Portal account.
If you have a personalized plate or a plate with special character(s), please do not enter any spaces and special characters when entering the plate into one of the parking systems used on campus. 
Please manage your vehicles through the Transportation Portal by adding or removing vehicles as needed. It is the responsibility of the account holder to ensure vehicles are linked properly with their permit(s).
Please follow our helpful guides to add and link vehicles to purchased permits.

Automated License Plate Recognition Usage and Privacy Policy

San Diego State University (SDSU) uses Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology, herein known as License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology, for parking enforcement purposes. LPR allows for the automated detection of vehicle license plates. LPR captures and stores digital data and images of license plates.

SDSU’s Parking & Transportation Services (PATS) unit is responsible for enforcement of SDSU’s parking policy, rules, and restrictions. All data and images gathered by SDSU’s LPR are for the official use of PATS in enforcing SDSU’s parking policy, rules, and restrictions.

LPR system means a searchable computerized database resulting from the operation of one or more mobile or fixed cameras combined with computer algorithms to read and convert images of registration plates and the characters they contain into computer-readable data. LPR information means information or data collected through the use of an ALPR system.

This Usage and Privacy Policy ensures that the access, use, sharing, and dissemination of ALPR information is consistent with respect for individuals’ privacy and civil liberties as required by Civil Code §1798.90.51 and §1798.90.53.

This Usage and Privacy Policy is available to the public in writing.

(A) The authorized purpose for using the LPR system and collecting LPR information is for the official use of PATS for parking enforcement and management. The LPR system may also be used to identify stolen or wanted vehicles as allowed by law upon request by the University Police Department (UPD).

(B) Access to and use of LPR information are not available to the public. Access and use are authorized for the following individuals:

  • Technical support personnel of SDSU's authorized service provider of LPR technology.
  • PATS Associate Director of Parking & Transportation Services or Designee(s).
  • PATS Parking Enforcement Staff.
  • Parking Systems Analyst.
  • Director of Parking & Transportation Services or Designee(s).

(C) Training for those with authorized access to and use of LPR information shall consist of the following depending on role of person accessing the data:

  • Data storage and protection - Vendor
  • Reporting of data theft, loss, or breach - Vendor
  • Patroller equipment and system design - Vendor
  • Equipment and System General Terminology - Vendor
  • Review of System Design and Data Flow - Vendor/Parking Systems Analyst
  • Patroller's Start-Up Process - All
  • Screen Navigation - All
  • Patroller's Standard Patrol Process - All
  • Permit Hit Process - All
  • General Patroller Functions - All

(D) All data will be safeguarded and protected by both procedural and technological means. PATS will observe the following safeguards regarding access to and use of stored data:

  • All LPR data processed by the LPR system and storage shall be accessible only through a login/password-protected system capable of documenting all access of information by name, date and time.
  • Users approved to access LPR data under these guidelines are permitted to access the data for legitimate parking management purposes only.
  • All data transmission and storage will follow SDSU Security guidelines based on the applicable data level.
  • Security or data breaches shall be handled pursuant to SDSU's Information Security Program.

The LPR system is monitored to ensure the security of the information and compliance with applicable privacy laws. Security monitoring consists of the following access controls:

  • LPR users/operators who access or provide access to LPR information shall maintain a record of that access and require that LPR information only be used for the authorized purposes described herein.
  • Records of access shall include:
    • The date and time the information is accessed.
    • The license plate number or other data elements used to query the LPR system.
    • The username of the person who accesses the information, and, as applicable, the organization or entity with whom the person is affiliated.
    • The purpose for accessing the information.
  • The LPR system shall be audited every three (3) months to determine whether any protected information has been subject to unauthorized disclosure.
  • The system shall be subject to SDSU's Information Security Standards, Information Security Program, and Responsible Use Policy.

(E) LPR information shall not be sold to any person or entity. LPR information may be shared or transferred to persons or entities other than those specifically authorized by this Policy as required by law. Any request for such sharing or transfer of LPR information must be submitted and approved before any information is transferred. Such requests shall be submitted to the Director of PATS or designee and must be approved in writing with proper consultation from legal counsel and/or the campus Public Records Act (PRA) office.

(F) The official custodian of LPR information who is responsible for implementing this Usage and Privacy Policy is the Director of PATS.

(G) SDSU will use the following measures to ensure the accuracy of LPR information and to correct data errors:

  • Authorized system operators will monitor accuracy on a daily basis and report any anomalies.
  • System errors will be addressed by the PATS Parking Systems Analyst.
  • Software system technical support will be consulted when issues require an elevated level of support.

(H) LPR information will be retained for a period of thirty (30) days. The process SDSU will employ to determine if and when to destroy retained ALPR information is completed through an automated system task.