Brookline, MA ALPR

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

All documents relating to usage of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology by Brookline Police Department, including but not limited to documents indicating:

-scope of ALPR deployment;
-purposes for which ALPR technology is employed;
-means of handling and storing ALPR data;
-extent and timeline for ALPR data storage; and
-protocols and extent of ALPR data sharing between BPD and other government agencies.

Please include any relevant documents, including but not limited to memos, reports, emails, meeting minutes and contracts.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Shawn Musgrave

Lt. Harrington:

Captain Gropman suggested I get in contact with you regarding BPD's Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) acquisition, use and policy. I have copied the public records request I sent to him below.

According to the meeting minutes from the Board of Selectmen meeting on June 26, 2012 (http://209.6.162.132/SIREPub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=71&doctype=MINUTES), Brookline voted to authorize purchase of an ALPR as well as the adoption of an ALPR policy. Please let me know if anything in the request can be further clarified.

Best,
Shawn Musgrave

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To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

All documents relating to usage of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology by Brookline Police Department, including but not limited to documents indicating:

-scope of ALPR deployment;
-purposes for which ALPR technology is employed;
-means of handling and storing ALPR data;
-extent and timeline for ALPR data storage; and
-protocols and extent of ALPR data sharing between BPD and other government agencies.

Please include any relevant documents, including but not limited to memos, reports, emails, meeting minutes and contracts.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Shawn Musgrave

Thank you for getting in touch again. Yes, please send the policy. Should I submit a new records request to get documents related to the purchase, or can you send those as well?

Best,
Shawn

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 17, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.