FOIA Request: ALPR Log
| Tracking # |
2024-00747 |
| Submitted | Feb. 18, 2024 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: e
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
An audit log of all ALPR queries in the Vigilant system between 1/1/2023 and 2/18/2024. This request is not seeking the plate numbers or any personally identifiable information. It is seeking the date and time for conducting a query in the specific date range cited.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, 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 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Ed Vogel
From: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
February 22, 2024 REFER TO: 2024-00747
Mr. Ed Vogel
MuckRock News DEPT MR 158919
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Dear Mr. Vogel:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated February 19, 2024, and received by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on February 19, 2024, in which you requested an audit log of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) queries in the Vigilant system between January 1, 2023, and February 18, 2024.
The records you seek require a search in at least one other office within ATF. Accordingly, your request presents “unusual circumstances” under the FOIA. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B)(iii)(I). Because of these unusual circumstances, we are extending the time limit to respond to your request by ten additional days, as permitted by the statute. We have not completed a search to determine whether there are records within the scope of your request. The time needed to process your request will depend on the complexity of our records search and on the volume and complexity of any records located.
For your information, this office assigns incoming requests to one of three tracks: simple, complex, or expedited. Each request is then handled on a first-in, first-out basis in relation to other requests in the same track. Simple requests usually receive a response in approximately one month, whereas complex requests necessarily take longer. Your request was assigned to the Complex track. It was placed in chronological order based on the date of receipt and will be handled as quickly as possible when it is assigned for processing. Your request was assigned ATF tracking number 2024-00747. Please refer to this number in any future communications regarding this request.
Because this Office is not assessing any fees in connection with the processing of FOIA requests at this time, there is no need for us to determine whether your request qualifies for a waiver of fees.
If you have any questions regarding the status of your request, you may contact our FOIA Public Liaison at 202-648-7390. Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001; e-mail at ogis@nara.gov; telephone at 202-741-5770; toll free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-741-5769.
Sincerely,
Ginae E. Barnett
Acting Chief
Information and Privacy Governance Division
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 19, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2024-00747.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 19, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2024-00747.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Hello Ed Vogel,
Thank you for your continued patience as we process your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. We are writing to inform you that your request is still open and actively being worked on. We are tracking your request using the original request ID: 2024-00747.
Please note that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is currently undergoing a system migration. Starting Sunday, September 22, 2024, we will temporarily lose access to our current system. However, there is no need for concern; our team will continue processing your request during this transition.
You will receive updates about our new system via email from foia-team@atf.gov. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us at the same email address.
Should your request still be open when the new system is implemented, you will receive a new link to create an account in the updated system, where documents will be shared. If your request is complete, we will notify you through email. Alternatively, if you no longer wish for our office to continue processing your request, please let us know that as well.
For any immediate inquiries, please contact our FOIA Public Liaisons at 202-648-7390.
Thank you for your understanding and support during this transition.
Sincerely,
Hirsh D. Kravitz
Acting Chief
Information and Privacy Governance Division
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 19, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2024-00747.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Dear Mr. Vogel, I hope this message finds you well. ATF completed the processing of your FOIA request, reference number 2024-00747. Please find the enclosed final decision letter detailing the outcome and any applicable next steps. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please direct all additional correspondence through the ATFFOIAXpress PAL portal’s correspondence feature to contact our office. You canaccess the portal by creating an account at https://foia-pal.atf.gov. We appreciate your cooperation throughout this process.
Sincerely,
ATF FOIA Team
Note: This is not a monitored mailbox and replies to thisemail will not be seen or responded to. If you have any questions or concerns,please use the ATF FOIAXpress PAL portal’s correspondence feature to contactour office. You can access the portal by creating an account athttps://foia-pal.atf.gov. Additionally, you can contact the FOIA PublicLiaisons at 202-648-7390 for any further assistance and to discuss anyaspect of your request. For technical issue with PAL, please email foia-pal-support@atf.gov.Thank you for your understanding
