MARIETTA — Tens of thousands of automatic license-plate readers are being installed across the nation, on police cars, light posts and bridge overpasses — and some Cobb municipalities are jumping into the surveillance fray.
At least two local police agencies are using the advanced cameras and tracking software that can scan hundreds of car tags in just a few seconds, then upload them to a data bank where they are stored forever.
Both the Marietta and Acworth police departments use what they call “LPRs,” or license-plate readers, and say the devices have been very successful in tracking criminals great and small.
“I don’t have any stats for you, but it works very well,” said Capt. Mark Cheatham with Acworth Police. “Two weeks ago, we located a stolen car and made an arrest off that case by using this technology.”
Acworth purchased one LPR two years ago at a cost of about $20,000, Cheatham said. It was paid for with a grant from the federal government.
When one of these devices snaps a picture of your car, it logs your license-plate number, as well as the date, time, and location. The high-speed scanners can log every passing car. The devices also allow an officer to initiate a “live search” by plugging in a specific tag number, which will automatically feed the officer information on whether that tag is associated with a suspected crime or traffic offense anywhere in the nation.
via The Marietta Daily Journal – Car surveillance Acworth Marietta have latest technology.
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