Some cameras going up around Santee are automated license plate readers, while others are ordinary traffic sensors, according to ABC 10News reporting published late Thursday. The distinction has become part of a broader local debate as the city moves ahead with ALPR technology and residents weigh public safety against privacy questions.

ABC 10News reported that cameras at Cuyamaca Street and Mission Gorge Road are traffic sensors used to operate signals, while ALPR cameras farther down Cuyamaca Street near Target and Home Depot capture license plate information for law enforcement investigations.

In June, Mayor John Minto said Santee was moving forward with plans to install six ALPR cameras, with the possibility of more later, according to the report. The Santee Sheriff's Office has described the technology as an investigative tool.

A longtime resident told ABC 10News he supports individual rights but sees value in giving law enforcement tools to track vehicles connected to crimes. Privacy advocates and residents have raised questions about how ALPR data is collected, retained, accessed and shared.

The debate is sharpened by nearby El Cajon, where California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued in October 2025 over allegations the city improperly shared ALPR data with out-of-state agencies. For Santee residents, the immediate takeaway is practical: not every roadside camera is reading plates, but the ones that do are now part of a bigger East County discussion about safety, privacy and oversight.