License Plate Readers Added to Sheriff’s Fleet
Travis Bateman
Farmer Staff Writer
An additional tool to help aid county law enforcement is set to roll out soon and is currently in the testing phases.
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) have been added to the fleet of the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office. Three vehicles currently have the systems installed with a fourth to be added in the future.
ALPRs come in two versions, mobile or static. Mobile being those that are mounted upon a vehicle. Static being those affixed on poles along roads and highways. The mobile ALPRs can scan and check license plates of passing or parked vehicles as the patrol vehicle proceeds down the road.
If there is a hit or alert, the deputy is notified and can inquire further as to the type of hit detected. With meeting or passing numerous vehicles during patrol, this creates a digital net casting that can aid in locating stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, vehicles attached to crimes, vehicles associated with wanted persons, active investigations, missing or endangered persons alerts, and even terrorism.
Information provided by Chief Deputy Michael Ficken gave a more detailed explanation as to how the MCSO intends to use the system and what is in place now as it goes online.
“LPRs are a newly implemented, modern technology system that gives deputies faster, smarter access to information connected to criminal activity, improving both officer awareness and community safety,” Ficken said.
Additional benefits to the system are that it can enhance officer safety by which the system could alert a deputy to a vehicle and more importantly, its occupants, as high-risk, before a deputy makes contact or approaches it. Being automated, such an inquiry would take place without the deputy even having to do so themselves, ultimately saving time and allowing for focus on the individuals, vehicle, or other aspects while a situation is unfolding or developing.
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