West LAPD Gets High-Tech Cameras From Homeowner Association Settlement

 

December 12, 2007

The West LAPD has now received and installed several license-plate reading cameras.  The cameras, which are attached to police cars,  scan up to 1000 license plates per hour looking for stolen and/or wanted vehicles.

The money for the cameras was approved by the Westside Neighborhood Council and originated from a settlement between Tract 7260, Westwood South and a Century City developer.

The cameras are expected to improve the efficiency of our police department.

With budget cuts and local elected officials attention off on other topics, it is often up to the local homeowner associations to secure desperately needed infrastructure funding.

License plate reading cameras "read" each license plate on every vehicle passing the police cruiser.  The plate is then automatically checked against a database of stolen/wanted vehicles.  The system then informs the officers so that they can take action.

The technology was used recently in San Jose to catch a suspect who was wanted for abduction of a 12-year old. (read story).

In Beverly Hills, the technology was used recently to catch a car thief.