THE MIKIVERSE

taken from; http://worldfreemansociety.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=24

Police target Unregistered Cars with new Revenue Making Machine in South Auastralia

By: Peter-Ross: Valentine on: Jan 08 2010 03:14 GMT (329 Reads)

NEW mobile police surveillance cameras which automatically read number plates have become operational, SA Police have announced.

NEW mobile police surveillance cameras which automatically read number plates have become operational, SA Police have announced.

Police have been trialling the cameras - which can photograph a car's numberplate from a distance of up to 3m -on four patrol cars since earlier this month.

Stolen, unregistered or cars belonging to known criminals, hoon drivers or known arsonists are put into a data base linked to the cameras.

Chief Superintendent Paul Schramm said if the cameras detected any of these details, the patrol was alerted by a `flag', prompting further action. .

"We have already had some hoon drivers charged as a result of the technology," Chief-Supt Schramm said.

"We think this technology will make our roads safer."

The cars have two forward-facing cameras and one side- mounted camera, which are able to scan both moving and parked cars.

The results are monitored inside the patrol car by an officer, with the information immediately displayed.

If the number plates reveal the car is unregistered or if its registered owner has outstanding warrants or any other issues of interest to police, then the patrols can take action.

Police Minister Michael Wright said the technology already was in use in the UK.

"This is really at the cutting edge, it will bring us up to date with what is happening in other states around Australia and also overseas," he said.

"It will provide the ability for police to get instant information from number plates whether the driver is known to be involved in drugs or other types of criminal activity."

A decision will be made after the trial ends at Christmas whether to start fitting the cameras to all police cars - incluidng unmarked vehicles - at a cost of $40,000 per police car.

Victoria Police yesterday began trialling a new vehicle-mounted camera capable of scanning up to 700 passing vehicles in an hour, with the trial so far leading to the identification of three banned drivers per hour.

The camera system automatically scans and identifies vehicles registered to disqualified or suspended drivers quickly enough for police officers stationed further along the road to detain the driver.

Trialled in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin, the camera – mounted to a nondescript blue Volkswagen Transporter – has demonstrated the significant potential for the system’s automated number plate recognition technology.

Police representatives said that disqualified drivers were involved in 10 percent of all fatal road incidents, with research showing that such drivers are up to nine times more likely to be involved in road incidents than other motorists.

Called Mobile Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, the new systems will be trialled in four South Australia Police patrol cars until the end of the year, before a decision is made on whether to expand the programme.


Each patrol car is fitted with three ANPR cameras: two forward-facing and a third with with the ability to scan the registration plates of parked vehicles as the patrol car passes.

“It increases the potential for offenders to be identified, stopped and appropriate policing responses undertaken,” a SA Police release reads.

“Intelligence, particularly relating to vehicle location, can link criminals to these vehicles as well as linking vehicles to crime scenes. ANPR will also identify unroadworthy (vehicles).”

Assistant Commissioner Killmier pointed to the technology’s successful use interstate and overseas as evidence of the trial’s worth. He said the cameras will be used in crime reduction and road safety strategies this year.

“As a vehicle licence plate is read by the camera, the image is displayed on an LCD screen visible to police officers and an audible tone alerts police if a registration number plate matches a vehicle of interest,” Assistant Commissioner Killmier said.

“ANPR cameras record the location of a vehicle at an exact time, have a capacity to scan a high volume of vehicle plates, and work in all weather and lighting conditions.

“We hope they will help police intercept dangerous drivers and therefore assist in reducing deaths and serious injury.”