A 32-year-old ride-hailing driver from Foster City, Anuj Kumar, has been arrested following an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile male passenger in downtown San Jose. The incident occurred along the 100 block of Paseo de San Antonio and was reported to authorities the same night. Utilizing San Jose’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera network, detectives traced the vehicle’s movements and identified Kumar as the suspect. He was taken into custody in Foster City on September 13, 2026, and booked on suspicion of felony sexual assault of a minor. Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to contact Detective Hoang.
Surrounding Controversy Over Surveillance Technology:
The case has drawn additional attention to the San Jose Police Department’s use of surveillance technology. The arrest comes shortly after SJPD disclosed that an officer was fired for misusing the city’s Flock ALPR system on a personal device, prompting new restrictions on personal device access to database records. Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU of Northern California and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have also challenged the city’s continuous vehicle-tracking camera network in federal court over constitutional privacy concerns.
Legal Requirements for Rideshare Operations:
Under California Public Utilities Code Section 5445.2, transportation network companies are legally required to conduct rigorous annual background checks and vet drivers against the national sex offender registry. Platforms are also mandated to enroll drivers in the California DMV’s Employer Pull Notice program to monitor traffic and license status changes. Furthermore, major ride-hailing services restrict unaccompanied minors from booking standard trips, directing them instead toward specialized services featuring real-time tracking, PIN verification, and audio recording. If convicted under California Penal Code Section 1203.065, Kumar faces mandatory state prison time with no eligibility for probation.
