Durham cops, Province investing in Automated Licence Plate Recognition technology
Published November 30, 2022 at 10:43 am
Durham Police is investing in Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology, thanks to a one-time $2.5 million grant from Queen’s Park.
The ALPR technology has a variety of uses in fighting crime but its primary purpose is to combat the rise in auto thefts around the Region.
The system that consists of cameras that automatically scan licence plates and are installed in or on active-duty police cruisers and alerts officers to stolen or expired plates, or plates registered to suspended drivers. The system can also notify officers of missing and wanted persons and vehicles associated with AMBER alerts.
It does not detect moving violations.
“Police officers in the Region of Durham will be able use this new technology to locate missing persons, stolen vehicles, and identify and arrest suspects more quickly,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby, and Parliamentary Assistant to Premier Doug Ford. “The data is provided in real-time which will enable officers to make the best decisions based on the situation.”
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenvalvy, the MPP for Pickering Uxbridge, pointed out that police in Durham need access to “all the tools they can get” to combat crime. “Especially auto theft, which has become all too frequent in our neighbourhoods. The use of Automated Licence Plate Recognition will be a major step toward making our communities safer and our property more secure.”
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The one-time grant to help police services strengthen roadside law enforcement efforts and improve public safety across the province also supports Ontario’s recent move to eliminate licence plate renewal fees and stickers for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds by allowing licence plate information to be read automatically without requiring an officer to see a physical licence sticker to validate a vehicle.
“This investment further demonstrates our government’s plan to ensure police services across Ontario have the resources and equipment they need to keep our communities safe,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “I am confident this tool will be a tremendous asset to police services and help them combat incidents of auto theft and enhance public safety.”
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