APD unveils new license plate scanners

A new piece of technology has been deployed by the Albany Police Department that will silently scan the license plates of thousands of vehicles on city streets every day, looking for stolen cars, expired or suspended tags or expired insurance, officials say.

Four new sets of license plate scanners have been mounted to APD police cruisers and will constantly monitor passing traffic, scanning the plates of nearly every car that passes.

For police, they contend it’s a tool to help catch those people on the streets who may be driving without insurance coverage or may be driving a stolen vehicle that they may ordinarily miss.

Departments around the country who have added the cameras to their law enforcement arsenal say that the devices have led to dramatic increases in the amount of recovered stolen cars and have led to bigger busts by generating more traffic stops of those who may be carrying drugs or weapons.

Chief John Proctor said that the devices are also being deployed in border states like Arizona and Texas and are aiding in law enforcement’s attempts to keep illegal immigrants from crossing into the country.