GREECE, N.Y. (WROC) – It’s been about three months now since the Greece Police Department installed new tech to help match license plate numbers to possible crimes. There are now just under a dozen up around the area, but how does it actually work?
News 8 was able to get an inside look in a ride-along Monday afternoon with Officer Sheg of the Greece Police Department. He described these license plate readers as a tool – one to assist officers and investigators in a range of applications.
“So, they’re constantly scanning all day, all night. We’re used them quite a bit with helping recover stolen vehicles, along with missing persons, wanted people, AMBER Alerts, all of the above,” he said.
There are now approximately 11 intersections featuring the license plate number readers, referred to as “LPRS.” Ones put up at Greece Ridge Mall have been there since before October.
Two of Greece Police’s new license plate recognition cameras, mounted on W. Ridge Road near Greece Ridge Mall. (WROC/Ryan Hermenet)Officer Scheg said it’s working.
“When you actually look into it, it just depends on the day. The other day on Saturday, we had an alert and we had two stolen vehicles by 2 p.m. – which led to a couple juveniles being arrested,” he said.
According to Officer Scheg, those utilizing this equipment still must do their due diligence.
“The license plate readers just scan the numbers, they don’t look at the ‘state’ of the license plates. So, for example, this one here [he points to his device]- it’s saying that there’s a stolen license plate in the area of Elmgrove and West Ridge Road, but it’s up to every officer to check here to confirm it. So, this is clearly a New York plate and it’s a stolen license plate in Pennsylvania. So, that would not be accurate. So, you just have to investigate it a little bit before you just start pursuing it as if it’s a New York plate,” he explained.
Funding for the initiative came from a state law enforcement technology grant. An estimated 50 cameras are set to be active once mounting is complete.