NY- Monroe police are scanning for crime - New computers provide patrol officers with nearly instantaneous access to vehicle information

8-11-2008 New York:

Monroe - The Monroe Police Department has recently implemented license plate scanning technology that provides a variety of technical capability’s and law enforcement options.

With a scan rate of 30 plates per second, the system will alert a patrolman via the on-board computer system if the target vehicle is reported stolen, if the registered owner of the vehicle is wanted for a crime, has a suspended or revoked driver’s license, or has a suspended registration.

The License Plate Recognition System was acquired with a $20,000 grant and relies on two roof-mounted cameras on the patrol car.

According to Monroe Det. James Frankild, the system has many applications. For example, relying on Global Positioning System technology which provides geographic information via orbiting satellites, the location of all parks, schools and day care facilities in the community can be entered into the LPR database and enclosed within a “virtual fence.”

Vehicles owned or used within the region by registered sex offenders can also be stored and automatically alert the police when the sex offender drives into and violates any area within the community that’s established as off-limits within the virtual fence.

The LPR can also be used as an important tracking tool for locating criminal suspects or witnesses when the individual’s vehicle information is entered in the system. As the officer is cruising in his patrol car, the LPR will be scanning vehicles for the specific car as a target.

LPR random scans of parking lots while cruising can place a car and driver at a particular time and location when a suspect denies being at the crime scene.

Recently released parolees can be stored within the database and violation of curfew or entry into an off-limit location such as a bar can be determined if a positive license plate scan emerges. A similar alarm can be raised for orders of protection. The virtual fence can be stored within the LPR database defining the protected person’s home or place of employment.

If the LPR detects the car of the person assigned the restriction order within the protected area, the officer on patrol will be alerted.

Monroe Police Officer Greg Witte was a key player during the implementation of the system. He said in the first 20 minutes of operation, the system detected a vehicle with a suspended registration. Within the first week of operation 51 alarms were recorded he said.

“The possibilities with the LPR are endless and will change as the job of law enforcement changes,” Frankild said. “ The LPR, in my opinion, will help keep residents in the Village of Monroe safer and will help us in doing or job which is to seek justice for the victims of crimes.” ..News Source.. by Bill Lemanski