Sugar Land to install more crime prevention cameras

Sugar Land City Council approved a $1.6 million contract for crime prevention cameras at 27 locations mostly north of U.S. 90A in Sugar Land. Sugar Land City Council approved a $1.6 million contract for crime prevention cameras at 27 locations mostly north of U.S. 90A in Sugar Land. Photo: Courtesy City Of Sugar Land Photo: Courtesy City Of Sugar Land Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Sugar Land to install more crime prevention cameras 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Sugar Land City Council approved a $1.6 million contract for crime prevention cameras at 27 locations mostly north of U.S. 90A in Sugar Land.

Installation at entrances and exits to the city will begin later this month and should take about four months.

The project will create a network of license plate recognition cameras at major thoroughfares throughout the city to help identify, arrest and convict criminals. Performance reports presented to City Council on a quarterly basis will be used to consider expansion of the system into other areas of Sugar Land.

The police department has used license plate recognition cameras for approximately five years. Five mobile systems are installed on police vehicles and three fixed systems are located in Sugar Land Town Square and the First Colony Mall area.

The city's expanded use of LPR cameras will help solve crimes after they occur by providing police officers a searchable database of license plates. The concept works as follows: A crime occurs. a witness provides a vehicle description and a police officer authorized to access the system searches the database for the suspect vehicle and its license plate number.

The system may also serve as a crime deterrent. If criminals know that cameras are in place, they may be less likely to commit crimes in Sugar Land, according to officials.

The cameras will record the exterior of vehicles for the purpose of capturing license plates. With the exception of emergency situations or special circumstances, there will be no live monitoring of the system.

License plate records will be retained for no more than 30 days, except when used as evidence as part of a criminal investigation. Information will not be shared with the general public, unless required by law for law enforcement matters. The use of the LPR system will be consistent with privacy laws and the constitutional rights of individuals.