El Cajon Flock Cameras: Key Facts

• El Cajon has about 100 Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras installed throughout the city, according to March 2026 local news reporting.
• Records from Flock’s transparency portal show more than 600 agencies have access to El Cajon’s license plate data, including police departments in more than 20 states.
• On October 3, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the City of El Cajon in San Diego County Superior Court for sharing this data with out-of-state law enforcement.
• California’s ALPR law, known as SB 34, allows public agencies to share license plate data only with other California public agencies.
• California Civil Code § 1798.90.54 allows people harmed by violations of the ALPR law to sue for damages, including liquidated damages of at least $2,500.
• McKenzie Scott PC is currently speaking with El Cajon residents and drivers who may have claims.

Who May Qualify for an El Cajon Flock Camera Claim?

You may be eligible if you drove a vehicle in El Cajon while its Flock cameras were active. Because Flock cameras photograph every passing car, people who drive in the city often are most likely to have extensive location records. We especially want to hear from:

• El Cajon residents who drive in the city regularly, including neighborhoods like Fletcher Hills and Granite Hills
• Commuters who work or attend school in El Cajon
• Frequent visitors who shop, attend services, see doctors, or visit family in El Cajon
• Drivers who regularly use major city streets such as Main Street, Broadway, Fletcher Parkway, Magnolia Avenue, and Second Street
• Residents of nearby communities, including Santee, La Mesa, Lakeside, Rancho San Diego, and Alpine, who drive through El Cajon often

You do not need to know which camera captured your vehicle or prove your data was shared before contacting us. Investigating that is our job. Consultations are confidential, and you can ask a lawyer questions regardless of your background or immigration status.

What Happened With El Cajon’s Flock Cameras? Timeline

• 2015: California passes SB 34, limiting how agencies may use and share license plate reader data.
• October 2023: The Attorney General issues a bulletin to law enforcement confirming that out-of-state and federal agencies are not “public agencies” that may receive ALPR data.
• August 2024 and August 2025: According to the Attorney General, his office warns El Cajon in writing that its data sharing violates state law.
• October 3, 2025: The Attorney General files a lawsuit asking the San Diego County Superior Court to declare El Cajon’s data sharing unlawful and order it to stop.
• January 21, 2026: The Attorney General files a motion asking the court to immediately halt El Cajon’s sharing.
• March 2026: At a hearing, El Cajon’s attorney asks for more time to review evidence, and the court sets a new hearing date.
• Today: El Cajon officials maintain the City is following the law, and the case remains in court. 

What Does California Law Say About Flock License Plate Data?

California’s ALPR statute (Civil Code §§ 1798.90.5 to 1798.90.55) is one of the strongest license plate privacy laws in the country. It requires that:

• Data stays in California. A public agency may not sell, share, or transfer ALPR information except to another public agency (§ 1798.90.55(b)). “Public agency” means the State of California or a California city, county, or other political subdivision (§ 1798.90.5).
• Data is protected. Operators must use reasonable security safeguards and follow a written usage and privacy policy (§ 1798.90.51).
• People can sue. Individuals harmed by a violation, including unauthorized access or use of ALPR data, may bring a civil lawsuit (§ 1798.90.54).

A separate law, the California Values Act (SB 54), limits how state and local agencies may assist federal immigration enforcement.

Why Your Flock License Plate Data Matters

A single license plate photo may seem harmless, but thousands of them create a map of your life. The Attorney General has warned that ALPR records can reveal where people live, work, worship, seek medical care, and spend time. Once that data leaves California, the state loses control over how it is used.

The Attorney General has raised concerns that shared data could be used for immigration enforcement, to track people who travel to California for reproductive care, or to monitor people exercising free speech rights. El Cajon officials dispute those concerns, but state law does not allow the sharing either way.

Why Claims May Target Both the City of El Cajon and Flock Safety

The City of El Cajon operates the cameras and, according to the Attorney General, chose to keep sharing data with out-of-state agencies after repeated warnings.

Flock Safety builds, hosts, and manages the camera network and the national data-sharing platform that makes out-of-state access possible. Flock paused a pilot program with federal immigration agencies in 2025 amid confusion over how data was being used. Private class actions have also been filed against Flock in California, and civil liberties groups have sued other California cities, including San José and Oakland, over license plate data sharing.

Holding both accountable may give affected drivers the best chance of stopping the sharing and recovering compensation.

What Compensation May Be Available?

Under California Civil Code § 1798.90.54, a court may award:

• Actual damages, but not less than $2,500 in liquidated damages
• Punitive damages when a violation shows willful or reckless disregard of the law
• Attorney’s fees and litigation costs
• Court orders requiring the unlawful practices to stop

Every case is different, and no outcome can be guaranteed. You pay no fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Is There a Deadline to File an El Cajon Flock Camera Claim?

Yes, and it may be short. Before suing a California city for money damages, you generally must file a written government claim, often within six months of the harm (Government Code § 911.2). Separate deadlines apply to claims against private companies like Flock Safety. Waiting could cost you the right to recover anything. Speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.

How Do I Know If a Flock Camera Captured My Car?

If you drive in El Cajon, it is likely. Flock cameras run 24 hours a day and record every vehicle that passes, including the plate number, vehicle details, date, time, and location. Drivers receive no notice. Records from Flock’s own transparency portal show which agencies can access El Cajon’s data. Our team can help determine what records may exist about your vehicle.

The Attorney General’s Lawsuit vs. Your Own Claim

The Attorney General’s case asks the court to declare El Cajon’s data sharing illegal and order it to stop. It does not seek compensation for individual residents or drivers.

A private claim is different. It may seek money damages for people whose data was shared, along with court orders to protect their privacy going forward. A ruling in the Attorney General’s case would not automatically compensate you.

Why El Cajon Drivers Choose McKenzie Scott’s Civil Rights Lawyers

• We sue the government. McKenzie Scott PC is a San Diego civil rights firm that holds government agencies and corporations accountable when they violate people’s rights, including in police misconduct cases.
• Proven trial lawyers. Founding partners Michele McKenzie and Tim Scott are Stanford Law School graduates, backed by a full team of trial attorneys. Michele McKenzie spent nearly 20 years at Federal Defenders of San Diego.
• Recognized excellence. Our attorneys have been selected to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.
• Results against government entities, including an $85 million civil rights verdict, a $16 million jail death settlement, and a $1 million settlement that was the largest payment of its kind in National City’s history. See more case results. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
• Local to San Diego County. Our office at 1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, in San Diego serves clients throughout East County. Se habla español.

How to Start Your Free El Cajon Flock Camera Case Review

1. Contact us. Call (619) 794-0451 or complete our free case review form.
2. Tell us how you use El Cajon roads. Share where you live, where you drive, and roughly how long you have driven in the area.
3. Get answers. A member of our legal team will review your situation and explain your options at no cost and with no obligation.

Sources:

• California Attorney General: Bonta Sues El Cajon for Illegally Sharing License Plate Data (Oct. 3, 2025)
• California Attorney General: Bonta Continues Legal Challenge Against El Cajon (Jan. 21, 2026)
• CBS 8: Judge Schedules Hearing in El Cajon License Plate Data Lawsuit (Mar. 2026)
• NBC 7 San Diego: California Sues El Cajon Over License Plate Reader Data (Oct. 2025)
• CalMatters: California Sues El Cajon Over Police Use of License Plate Data (Oct. 2025)
• California Civil Code §§ 1798.90.5 to 1798.90.55; California Government Code § 911.2

*Attorney Advertising. The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Contacting McKenzie Scott PC does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. McKenzie Scott PC, 1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92101. Contact us.