Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This page contains some of the most frequently asked questions that our department receives from the public. If your question has not been answered here, feel free to Contact Us.
Administration
How many officers do you have?
Answer: We are authorized for 32 Sworn Officers, 2 Reserves and 15 professional civilian staff.
How many police vehicles do you have?
Answer: We have 9 marked cars and 4 motorcycles.
What is the annual Police Operating Budget?
Answer: The annual operating budget for public safety is approximately $20.6 million. The public safety umbrella includes Police, Emergency Preparedness and Fire. Fire and medical services are provided by Santa Clara County Fire.
What hours/shifts do officers work?
Answer: Patrol officers work 12-hour shifts, on a rotating basis. Officers in non-patrol functions work 10-hour shifts.
Crime & Prevention
How do I find out more information about crime prevention?
Answer: Visit our Crime & Prevention page, email crimeprevention@losaltosca.gov or call (650) 947-2776 if you would like to subscribe to our monthly Crime Prevention newsletter just email us and we will add you.
Does Los Altos have a Neighborhood Watch Program?
Answer: Yes, it is a cooperative program between residents and the police department. Individual neighborhoods are encouraged to unite and form programs with the assistance of the police department. Visit our Neighborhood Watch information here, email crimeprevention@losaltosca.gov or call (650) 947-2776.
How can I improve my home security?
Answer: Fill out and submit a Home Security Inspection Request to schedule an officer to come out and meet with you at your property to discuss safety measures to improve security at your residence.
Can you recommend an alarm system?
Answer: There are several types of alarm systems available. We are not able to recommend a company but we do encourage you to do your homework and contact a few companies to come out and provide an estimate. Questions you should ask are "Is the alarm system audible?", "Does a signal go to a central monitoring system?" and "When is the police department contacted?"
Is there a fee if I have an alarm system in my residence or business?
Answer: Yes, there are charges for initial, annual, late and false alarm fees if you have an alarm system installed in your business or residence in Los Altos. Visit Alarm Systems for more detailed information on our website and this link will take you to the Los Altos Municipal Ordinance 6.04 - Alarm Systems.
How do I check for registered sex offenders in my neighborhood (Megan's Law)?
Answer: Visit the California Attorney General's website for Megan's Law information.
Can I have a police officer come out and talk to my employees, children, classroom, etc. on safety?
Answer: Yes, requests can be made by submitting the details here Presentation Request Form with a minimum of 10 days notice. Include the following: proposed date, time, location, group size, age range and the topic for discussion.
9-1-1 Communications
What happens when I call 9-1-1 from a cellular telephone?
Answer: If the call is made here in Los Altos we will receive your call. The first question our communications officer will ask is "what is the location of your emergency?" so make sure you know your location so we can send help right away. In Los Altos, to report an emergency, you may either dial 9-1-1 or (650) 947-2779.
What number do I call to report a non-emergency situation?
Answer: The non-emergency number to call is (650) 947-2770. The number is answered 24-hours per day/7 days per week.
When should I call 9-1-1?
Answer: Dial 9-1-1 to report any incident requiring an immediate response. Based on the type of call the communications officer will determine whether a police, fire or medical response is necessary and some times all services are dispatched. Do not call 9-1-1 for non-emergency requests. Non-emergency calls should dial (650) 947-2770.
When I call 9-1-1, what information should I give?
Answer: The communications officer will need to ask you several questions. It is important that you listen to the officer and follow his/her instructions. You must stay on the line until the officer tells you that it is okay to hang up.
Be prepared to answer:
- What number are you calling from?
- What location are you calling from?
- What is happening?
- What are they wearing?
- What do they look like?
- What direction are they traveling?
What if I need to contact the Los Altos Police Department and I either do not speak English, or I am hearing or speech impaired?
Answer: The Los Altos Police Department Communications Center is equipped with TDD devices for communicating with the hearing and/or speech impaired via both 9-1-1 and non-emergency numbers. Language translation services are also available.
General
I need my child's car seat installed, do you provide that service?
Answer: No, we do not install or inspect child car seats. Check out the California Highway Patrol's Child Passenger Safety Program.
What is the legal age to buy cannabis or cigarettes?
Answer: A person must be twenty-one (21) years or older to possess, purchase, or smoke tobacco or cannabis, as well as possess or purchase smoking products such as pipes, vape pens, roach clips, etc).
Juvenile
Is a juvenile's arrest confidential?
Answer: The juveniles identity will be kept confidential.
Will a Juvenile's arrest record affect him/her after the age of 18?
Answer: Juvenile arrest records, excluding serious felony records, can be sealed after the age of seventeen (17).
What arrests affect a juvenile's driving privileges?
Answer: All alcohol and drug related charges will affect a juvenile's driving privileges.
What is the curfew in Los Altos?
Answer: There is a curfew between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., 7 days a week, for juveniles. This does not prohibit juveniles from traveling in vehicles to a specific destination, but does prohibit loitering and being out without a specific purpose. Minors in public can expect to be contacted by the police.
What is the law concerning juvenile parties?
Answer: No person shall suffer, permit, allow or host a social gathering at his or her place of residence where ten (10) or more persons under the age of twenty-one (21) are present and alcoholic beverages are in the possession of, or are being consumed by, any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years. The responsible party will be fined for our response (LAMC § 7.04.030).
Nuisances
Whom do I call for an abandoned vehicle?
Answer: Police Communications can be contacted at (650) 947-2770.
File a Police Report Online
What do I do if online incident reporting is not right for me?
Answer: If your incident is an emergency, call 9-1-1. If non-emergency, call (650) 947-2770.
What if this happened in another city. Can I file a report using this online police citizen reporting system?
Answer: No, If a crime took place outside of the city of Los Altos, please call the police department in the city the crime occurred.
What if this happened on a state freeway?
Answer: If this took place on a state freeway, please call the Highway Patrol Office nearest you.
What if a known suspect?
Answer: A known suspect is when you or someone else knows the person or where to find the person who committed the crime or know the license plate number of the vehicle the suspect(s) were in.
Parking
How to I lookup or pay a parking ticket?
Answer: To find, pay or appeal your parking ticket, click here. If you plan to visit or work in downtown Los Altos, check out Parking Information.
What are the hours of parking enforcement in downtown Los Altos?
Answer: Parking is enforced between Monday - Saturday, 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for time-regulated spaces. Handicapped parking is enforced 24-hours a day.
There is a car in my neighborhood that doesn't belong to anybody, what can I do?
Answer: In Los Altos, a vehicle is allowed to park in the same spot for up to 72-hours per (LAMC § 8.20.090). Call the non-emergency business line (650) 947-2770 to report a vehicle has been parked 72-hours or more. The communications officer will need to know the location, make, model, license plate and color of the vehicle. The police officer will tag the vehicle and then check back in 72-hours.
Citizens' Police Task Force
What are the Police Task Force Recommendations?
- You can review Council direction from the November 24, 2020 meeting here.
- You may also see a summary of the changes on our Police Task Force page here.
How can I submit my complaint directly to the Independent Intake Official (IIO)?
Answer: Information on submitting complaints to the IIO may be found on the Independent Intake Official page here.
Why might my police complaint not be assigned to an investigator?
Answer: At times, complaints are received and upon initial review, determined to not involve a Los Altos Police Officer. Those complaints are referred to the appropriate jurisdiction. Some complaints may be determined to be inquiries about policy and procedure, as opposed to misconduct allegations.
What does the Independent Intake Official (IIO) do?
- Contracts with the city of Los Altos
- Accepts complaints from the public
- Shares complaints with the police department so the administration may process the complaint
- Accepts and logs complaints that were initially sent to the police department
- Monitors the progress of complaints to ensure timely processing
- Holds your name confidential from the police department if you choose this option
- Generates an annual report to the city summarizing all police complaints received (the IIO Annual Report will not include personal identifying information (PII) about complainants or officers
What does the Independent Intake Official (IIO) not do?
- The IIO does not work for the Los Altos Police Department
- The IIO does not conduct investigations
- The IIO has no authority to change the result of an investigation
- The IIO will not release your name to the police department if you choose to remain anonymous
What if I want to file an anonymous complaint, but I wish to be contacted as to the outcome of a police complaint investigation?
Answer: If you wish to remain anonymous, you can provide your contact information to the Independent intake official (IIO) who will keep that information confidential from Police Department staff at your request. Providing your information to the IIO will ensure you receive follow-up communication as to the outcome of any complaint investigation.
Why might an officer not be subject to the disciplinary process if a complaint is investigated and an allegation sustained?
Answer: In the vast majority of cases, when an allegation against an officer is sustained, the officer will be subject to the disciplinary process. There are rare circumstances, however, when the officer would not face discipline after a complaint is sustained. For example if an officer is no longer a city employee at the conclusion of an investigation, the department cannot impose discipline. Sustained complaints will remain in a department file and be retained according to the department’s retention policies.
Property
What hours are available for the release of property?
Answer: Property can be released, by appointment only, Monday - Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
How long is property held for safekeeping?
Answer: Property held for safekeeping will be retained for 60 days.
If I find money or other valuable property and turn it into the police, can I later claim it if the true owner has not collected it?
Answer: Yes, it is the finder's responsibility to contact the Property & Evidence Unit after 90 days to file a claim for the property. Exceptions include weapons and contraband.
Does the City hold auctions for unclaimed property?
Answer: No, the City contracts with auction houses for that purpose.
Records
Can I get my citation signed off?
Answer: The Los Altos Police Department is only authorized to sign-off citations for Los Altos residents or citations issued by a Los Altos police officer. If one or both of these apply, you may come to the Los Altos Police Department with the yellow copy of your citation and we will assist you. There is no fee for this service. If you are not a resident or you were cited by another agency, contact the law enforcement agency where you live or the agency that originally issued you your citation.
How do I get a copy of a police report?
Answer: You must be an involved party to request a copy of a police report. You can contact Records personnel at the Los Altos Police Department between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday at (650) 947-2770 or submit a Request for copy of police report. There is no fee for a copy.
How do I get a copy of an accident report?
Answer: You can contact Records personnel at the Los Altos Police Department between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday at (650) 947-2770 or submit a Request for copy of police report. There is no fee for a copy. You must be an involved party, or an authorized representative of an involved party.
How do I get a copy of my criminal record?
Answer: A personal criminal history report can be ordered for current or former California residents by requesting a Record Review Packet from the State of California, Department of Justice call (916) 227-3849 or (916) 322-2209. There is a fee. For criminal record FAQ information check the Department of Justice website.
How do I get a DMV SR-1 form for reporting an accident to the DMV for damages to my vehicle?
Answer: You may now fill out and print a DMV SR-1 form directly from the DMV website.
My car was towed. How do I get it back?
Answer: There are different circumstances for which a car may be towed. You will be required to pay a fee to the City of Los Altos, as well as to the tow company for tow and storage related fees. Under certain conditions you may not be eligible to obtain a release for the vehicle for 30 days. Call 24-hours a day, at (650) 947-2770 for general questions otherwise the registered/legal owner will need to be present to discuss any details regarding the vehicle release. Be prepared to provide a case number if requested.
I have a warrant for my arrest. How do I take care of it?
Answer: Since we can not verify who we are talking to over the phone, warrant specifics will not be discussed. Visit the police department that issued the warrant, once your identity is verified, the warrant will be pulled and reviewed. Based on the content (charges and bail amount) of the warrant, you may be cited and given a court date, post bail or be booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose.
Traffic
How can I get a radar trailer in my neighborhood?
Answer: Submit an Online Traffic Complaint Form to make a request for a radar trailer.
Whom do I contact to report an ongoing traffic issue in my neighborhood?
Answer: Complaints should be directed to the traffic unit by submitting an Online Traffic Complaint Form with details related to your traffic concern.
Does the new 15 mph school speed limit apply 24 hours, 7 days a week, or only when school is in session?
Answer: The 15 mph school speed zone is in effect during normal school hours when children are traveling to and from school and also during the afternoon lunch break.
Is there a minimum number of children who must be present for the 15 mph speed limit to be in effect?
Answer: No; there is no minimum number of children who must be present.
If I'm driving past a school [during or after school hours] and I see no children in front of me, can I speed up to 25 mph even before I reach the "End School Zone" sign?
Answer: No. A child does not have to be visible for the 15 mph speed limit to be enforced; it is enforced during normal school hours when children are traveling to and from school and also during the afternoon lunch break. The intention of the reduced speed is to get vehicles to slow down to a safer speed during the time when children are going to and from school and when they’re on lunch break.
If I see someone walking at midnight, am I expected to determine whether it's a child or an adult?
Answer: No. The 15 mph speed limit would not apply at midnight, thus determining the age of the pedestrian at that time would not be necessary.
Why not just change the speed limit instead of applying this conditional overlay speed limit?
Answer: The goal of the reduced speed limit is for the safety of children traveling to and from school. A permanent 15 mph speed limit would not be supported by an engineering and traffic survey, which is required per California Vehicle Code, for setting speed limits in the City.
