The Essex County OPP detachment now has Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) and in-car camera (ICC) systems installed in all of its patrol vehicles.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is introducing the new systems to all its frontline vehicles at detachments across the province.
“This is an example of the OPP’s commitment to increasing transparency and accountability in the policing of our communities, and to leverage technologies that will enhance community and officer safety,” a news release from Essex County OPP states. “These technologies will be used to gather enhanced evidence to be used in the prosecution of offenses and will also highlight the professionalism our members display every day as they work to ensure safe communities.”
The police say that in addition to the benefits of having an objective video recording of police interactions with the public, the integrated ALPR functionality will “dramatically” enhance an officer’s ability to detect license plates that are linked to criminal or traffic offenses.
The Essex County detachment continues to see drivers operating vehicles that don’t have valid, registered plates, police say. While vehicle owners do not need to pay for validation stickers, license plates are still required to be renewed annually or bi-annually.