Scanner To Assist Law Enforcement
Five California Highway Patrol cars are equipped with a new technology that allows officers to scan license plates and run the data through criminal databases. Police in Arcadia, Calif., are also using the Automatic License Plate Recognition technology, which allows police to extend their reach without having to add officers to the force, says Arcadia Police Chief Bob Sanderson.
Using wireless technology, the data from the camera system can be transmitted to police headquarters. The technology is produced by the security company Hamilton Pacific. Hamilton’s regional manager, Steve Reinharz, says the technology is capable of scanning up to 1,500 license plates per hour, compared with only 60 to 80 per hour by individual police officers.
The scanned plates are compared to 110,000 to 140,000 plates in a database of stolen vehicles that is updated on a daily basis. The system also searches databases of wanted suspects and vehicles used in felonies.
Arcadia is using $100,000 in grants to pay for the system. Arcadia police will use stationary cameras to track the license plates of all vehicles that enter or leave the Santa Anita Park racetrack and Westfield Santa Anita mall.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Pasadena Star-News (CA) (09/05/05); Allen, Marshall .
