GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The city will spend $104,616 of Transformation Fund money on police car camera systems that can continuously scan vehicle license plates and look for matches in databases of criminal warrants and parking scofflaws.
Grand Rapids City Commission voted unanimously this morning to use revenue from the voter-approved income-tax increase to pay for automated license plate recognition technology. Four 3-camera systems should be installed on patrol cars later this year.
Police say the cameras will speed their ability to look up license plate numbers, helping them catch criminals. Cops also will partner with the 61st District Court and the city’s treasury and income tax departments to crack down on motorists with outstanding fines.
Over five years, the camera systems are projected to generate a net revenue increase of $237,901 to the city’s general operating fund. Plus, police believe the systems will create intangible value by improving police efficiency.
“We’d have three cameras mounted either underneath or beside the light bar on the top of cruisers,” Grand Rapids police Capt. Dave Kiddle said. “(The system) is scanning plates going by you. It’s amazingly quick. The camera actually takes a picture of each car it scans, the plate itself and the rear of the vehicle.
“If it gets a hit (on the database), it will pop up the picture and explain what the hit is for. The officer does nothing (up to that point). It basically eliminates them pushing in plates.”
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