California Attorney General Rob Bonta files suit after El Cajon shares license-plate data with out-of-state agencies.
On Friday, the California Department of Justice announced it has sued the City of El Cajon, accusing the city of violating state law by sharing automated license plate reader data with out-of-state law enforcement agencies.
Under Senate Bill 34, passed in 2015, California bans state and local agencies from sharing ALPR data with federal or out-of-state entities, citing concerns over the loss of oversight and the potential misuse of information once it leaves state jurisdiction.
According to the AG’s lawsuit, El Cajon has repeatedly ignored warnings and continued disclosing sensitive information to agencies in more than two dozen states.
Mayor Bill Wells denounced the lawsuit as “political retaliation against a conservative city.” He maintains that El Cajon shares data not to undermine the law, but to improve public safety by collaborating with agencies that help track criminals across state lines.
“We will not apologize for cooperating … with agencies that help us catch criminals, prevent crime, and protect innocent lives,” Wells said.
Wells also framed Sacramento’s legal action as an attempt to silence cities that resist state mandates: “For years, Sacramento has looked for ways to punish cities like ours … now they’re using the courts to intimidate those of us who disagree with them.”
The state asserts that when data leaves California, the state loses all control over how it’s used—including tracking immigrants, protestors, or women seeking abortions.
“Once information about Californians leaves the state, we no longer have any say over how it is used or shared,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in the press release.
As the case moves into the San Diego Superior Court, El Cajon faces serious legal pressure, but the city appears determined to mount a defense.
