Shenandoah police begin process to buy automated license plate scanners

The Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system reads license plates through a multi-camera system mounted on top of the vehicle, then compares the readings instantly to a database of vehicles. The system has the ability to read 3,600 plates per minute either parked or moving. The system is also capable of reading a license plate on a vehicle traveling up to 180 MPH. Privacy advocates across the United States claim the ALPR systems are an invasion of privacy. less The Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system reads license plates through a multi-camera system mounted on top of the vehicle, then compares the readings instantly to a database of vehicles. The system ... more Photo: VANESA BRASHIER, The Advocate Photo: VANESA BRASHIER, The Advocate Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Shenandoah police begin process to buy automated license plate scanners 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

The city of Shenandoah has put out a request for proposal for the purchase of two fixed and three mobile automated license plate readers (ALPRs) for use by the small city's police department.

Before the City Council unanimously voted to approve the RFP at the Wednesday, Jan. 10, meeting, Shenandoah police Chief Raymond Shaw said the five automated license plate readers will be used across both the patrol and special services divisions.

"We know which one we like the best," Shaw told council members. "It's time to see which one suits our needs."

The three mobile units would be installed on three new police vehicles, while the fixed units will be installed at the main entrances to the Shenandoah residential areas, Shaw said. The main entrances include Wellman Road and Tuscany Woods Drive and Shenandoah and Savannah Drives, he said.

Shaw said officers thought about using the Grogan's Mill intersection as one of the fixed locations for an ALPR, but decided against it because the intersection was "too busy."

The idea is get vehicles entering Shenandoah, not traffic through The Woodlands.

"It will give us a good test of the people that (are) entering the residential areas," he said.

Making sure to note that he was comfortable moving forward with RFP, Council Member Byron Bevers said he had "privacy concerns" over the possible purchase of the ALPRs.

Bevers asked Shenandoah City Attorney William Ferebee to make sure to review the proposed two-year retention period policy for data collected by the ALPRs before the city possibly moved forward with the purchase in a future meeting.

"I think that's too long and I think we can shorten that up if it doesn't hit the database," Bevers said. "Unless there are reasons that I'm not aware of, we can talk about that."

Bevers also suggested that data only be kept for longer periods if it is needed in an investigation or if it "pings" the database. Otherwise, the data should be purged, he added.

According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, ALPRs assist law enforcement agencies in the search of vehicles that have been reported stolen, are suspected in criminal activities or used by persons wanted by authorities.

ALPRs automatically capture images of the license plates of vehicles, and the technology then compares the information with information stored in numerous other law enforcement databases. If a "hits," occurs-or when a license plate matches an existing law enforcement file in a database, police officials receive an alert, according to the IACP.

Critics of the devices say they pose serious privacy and civil liberty threats by tracking the whereabouts of any individual, not just those wanted by police.

Shenandoah Mayor Ritch Wheeler suggested that if the policy was an issue, the RFP should be split into two parts: one for the two fixed units and one for the three mobile units.

"The reason being is, I think we have some policy issues to decipher here and work our way through," Wheeler said. "We might figure them all for one site, which would be the fixed but I think the mobile might be more difficult."

Further discussion regarding policy on the automatic license plate readers will take place at a future meeting.

Bids are due to city officials by Jan. 19.