More Police Departments Across Pa. Keen To Acquire New License Plate Reader Technology
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- PennDOT held a demonstration in Harrisburg for legislators and state lawmakers to show off the benefits of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. Supporters say the technology could tip them off to criminals on the run.
The new technology will allow police agencies throughout the Commonwealth to quickly and accurately check license plates.
PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards says a single, hands-free license plate reader unit mounted to an officer's vehicle can run information on 3,100 tags a day. She says it would immediately alert an officer to expired registrations, lack of insurance, or other offenses. Currently, officers have to manually input a license number to confirm a problem.
Officials say dozens of police agencies across Pennsylvania are registered to use the technology, including Philadelphia, which already has more than 20 readers in operation.
PennDOT is in the process of eliminating the need for motorists to place registration stickers on license plates by the end of this year, and having drivers renew vehicle registrations online. It wants to use the savings for a grant program to help law enforcement agencies acquire those license plate readers.
Officials say in the last six months, the use of Automated License Plate Readers has led to the arrest of 21 wanted criminals, the apprehension of four Megan's Law offenders, and the recovery of $2.3-million worth of stolen vehicles.
Drivers will still need to have their vehicles registered and inspected once the license stickers are no longer in use. Streamlining the process is expected to produce more than $3-million in savings the first year.
