ALPR and Drone Information
The Fridley Public Safety Department uses Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) and drone technology to support public safety operations. This page provides information about how these tools work, the legal requirements that govern their use and resources for residents who want to learn more or share feedback.
Jump to a specific part of the webpage:
About the Technology
The Fridley Police Division uses two public safety technologies to support investigations and emergency response: Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) and drones (also called Unmanned Aerial Systems, or UAS).
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR)
ALPR cameras capture still images of the rear of passing vehicles and read the license plate number. That number is automatically compared against a law enforcement hotlist, a database of plates associated with stolen vehicles, missing persons, active warrants and other public safety concerns. When a match is found, officers receive an alert and must manually verify the information before taking action.
Fridley began using Flock Safety ALPR technology in October 2023. The system does not use facial recognition, and it does not have direct access to criminal justice databases. ALPR data is treated as private under Minnesota law.
Key safeguards:
- All searches are logged and require the officer to enter a written justification
- Photo data is automatically deleted after 60 days
- Tracking a vehicle's historical movement requires a judge-signed search warrant
- Data is not shared with federal agencies; immigration-related searches are prohibited and blocked
- The department reports all fixed camera locations to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and conducts biennial audits as required by state law.
Drones (Unmanned Aerial Systems)
Fridley uses drones to support emergency response, missing person searches, crash reconstruction and other situations authorized by state law. Drones provide real-time aerial information that helps officers respond more safely and effectively.
Key safeguards:
- Drones may only be deployed in situations that meet the criteria established by state law; all other uses require a judge-signed search warrant
- It is against the law for law enforcement to use drones to collect data on public protests or demonstrations without a warrant
- Drones are not equipped with facial recognition technology
- Every flight is documented and logged for audit purposes
- Footage with no evidentiary value must be deleted within seven days, as required by state law
Policies
- ALPR Policy – Fridley Police Department General Order 429, Automated License Plate Reader
- Drone Policy – Fridley Police Department General Order 328, Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operation
Compliance, Audit and Transparency
2024 ALPR Biennial Audit
Fridley Police completed its first ALPR biennial audit in November 2024, covering the period of October 2022 through October 2024. The audit was conducted independently by Code 4 Group and found the department to be in full compliance with state law. The Minnesota Department of Administration, Data Practices Office confirmed receipt and compliance on July 9, 2025. The next audit will cover October 2024 through October 2026.
View the audit document(PDF, 854KB)
Fridley Flock Safety Transparency Portal
The Fridley Flock Safety Transparency Portal provides public information about how Fridley PD uses Flock ALPR technology, including data retention practices and usage statistics.
View the portal
Additional Resources
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – Agencies Using License Plate Readers: A public list of all law enforcement agencies in Minnesota that use ALPR technology, maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. View the agency list
- Anoka County Sheriff's Office "Flock Safe County" Presentation: An overview of the county's ALPR and drone program, including how the technology works, safeguards in place and Anoka County success stories. View the presentation(PDF, 2MB)
- Flock Safety Privacy and Trust Resource Page: Flock Safety's public resource page with FAQs, privacy commitments, and information about data security. View the resource page