RED LIGHT
‘What’s the purpose?’ fume drivers who point to crucial error as 111 cameras installed to crack down on auto theft
Police explained how the cameras would work
DRIVERS have fumed after license plate readers were put in place to curb theft.
The plan is to install 111 cameras by mid-June with 55 already installed since January.
2
2
Denver, Colorado released a new initiative to crack down on rising car theft, according to FOX affiliate KDVR.
The city intends to install readers at about 70 intersections throughout Denver, according to the Denver Police Department.
Police said the readers already put in place have led to success in tracking suspects and stolen cars.
They have helped in 15 cases from May that led to an arrest or aided to an investigation.
READ MORE on Motors
"The Automated License Plate Recognition [ALPR] network is providing the investigative leads we expected, and we are optimistic about achieving even more positive outcomes like these for our community once the network is fully installed," Police Chief Ron Thomas said in a statement.
Though some license plate readers have helped track theft, some drivers are still skeptical.
"What's the purpose?" asked a Facebook user.
"Goodbye to freedoms and privacy," said another.
Most read in Motors
Many drivers argued most cars "don't have license plates" in Denver so they couldn't see how the camera installation was helpful to the city.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The readers take a picture of the back of a car and its license plate, make, model, and color, according to police.
New cameras to tackle ‘most dangerous intersection in the US’ – neighbors say ‘it’s scary’ and may not be enough
That information is then put in an encrypted Denver Police database that requires cops to have a reason to search through it.
Police said the driver or other passengers are not captured in the picture and no identifying information is being taken.
None of the information is shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or third parties and is not used for traffic enforcement, affirmed police.
The readers are used to find cars associated with crimes including hit-and-runs, Amber or Silver emergency alerts, stolen vehicles, or those used in homicides.
How do the license plate cameras work?
Denver, Colorado plans to install 111 cameras on 70 intersections around the city to crack down on auto theft.
The license plate cameras take a picture of the back of a car and its license plate, make, model and color, according to police.
That information is then put in an encrypted Denver Police database that requires cops to have a reason to search through it.
Police affirmed the driver or other passengers are not being captured in the picture and no identifying information is being taken.
The data is stored for 30 days unless an investigation needs it for longer.
"So when an individual steals a car, we have these license plate readers installed all over the area. Then the officers can then receive an alert through the system indicating where that individual stolen car may be at the time," Commander Paul Jimenez told the outlet.
Though cops insist the information is secure, groups like the American Civil Liberties Union are concerned about the privacy factor, warning the information could be added and stored in larger databases, according to the outlet.
Police said the data is stored for 30 days unless an investigation needs the information for longer.
The public will also be able to access a transparency portal that shows information such as the system's policy, statistics on how many vehicles were detected, and the number of wanted vehicles picked up by the cameras.
Colorado isn't the only state cracking down on new tactics to curb unlawful actions.
Read More on The US Sun
Delaware instated a new law that doesn't allow tow truck drivers to charge more than $500 for towing and storage, and to make sure it has rates on display for the public in lots they patrol.
The U.S. Sun has contacted the Denver Police Department for comment.