License-plate reader gives state troopers instant crime data

Itsme · 10-17-2005, 12:50 PM

License-plate reader gives state troopers instant crime data

By Joe Grata
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE

October 17, 2005

State police on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are experimenting with a high-tech device that reads license plates and provides instant crime information.

For example, as soon as Trooper Donald Hardeman pulled over a Honda Accord racing down the toll road at 91 mph in Chester County, an infrared TV camera identified the vehicle as stolen and posted the information on a screen on his console.

He called for backup to help remove the three occupants, who were arrested.

The Motorola Automatic License Plate Reader "gave us a tactical advantage," said Lt. Adam Kisthardt of the Pennsylvania State Police technology bureau in Harrisburg.

The manufacturer chose the Pennsylvania State Police for the test and, without charge to the state, has installed cameras and support equipment on seven turnpike patrol cars.

The units are expected to cost about $12,000.

"The cameras can read in snow, rain, in bright sunshine or total darkness," Kisthardt said. "They read the reflective lettering and numbers on plates and, in a split second, compare the image to information in the CLEAN network," the statewide database where law enforcement agencies post stolen vehicles, fugitives, all-points bulletins and Amber alerts.

For a match that's made instantly, a photo of the wanted vehicle is posted on the screen mounted inside the police car to indicate a "hit."

"The beauty of the system is this: As a trooper drives down the road or sits along the road, the equipment reads every license plate he encounters and runs it through the system," Kisthardt said.

speedracer120 · 10-17-2005, 01:04 PM

I have nothing to fear, but still I'm glad I don't drive on the Turnpike. I heard it was hellish this morning.

Grimm · 10-17-2005, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itsme

"The beauty of the system is this: As a trooper drives down the road or sits along the road, the equipment reads every license plate he encounters and runs it through the system," Kisthardt said.

So, is it going to be good or bad when they place these like photo inresections and record where every vehical travels?

Airencracken · 10-17-2005, 02:01 PM

Scary.

cheapie · 10-17-2005, 02:10 PM

not good that it reads every vehicle whether or not there's a suspicion of a crime being committed.

sizemic1 · 10-17-2005, 04:10 PM

Doesn't bother me. Definately seems like a good way to track stolen vehicles. Now I would have a problem if it was linked with past criminal offenses that an officier could use to harass me.

InfiniteNothing · 10-17-2005, 04:35 PM

Whoah cool. Some people I know wrote software to do that some time last year. I wonder if they were a part of the group. They used matlab.

Grimm · 10-17-2005, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sizemic1

Doesn't bother me. Definately seems like a good way to track stolen vehicles. Now I would have a problem if it was linked with past criminal offenses that an officier could use to harass me.

Joke's on you... CLEAN does access criminal histories and also interactes with the federal databases.
http://www.psp.state.pa.us/clean/site/default.asp

"Excuse me sir, you had a conviction for posession of controlled substances back in '93 so I am gonna need to search your car after I finish writing this ticket for your busted taillight..."
"Man, one joint in college and I'm marked for life..."

speedracer120 · 10-17-2005, 06:57 PM

Just stay clean.

Airencracken · 10-17-2005, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedracer120

Just stay clean.

Dude. The problem isn't staying clean, it's what's defined as crime.

Thoughtcrime.

speedracer120 · 10-17-2005, 09:09 PM

I don't know. I have to see a device that can read my mind. If there is one, I'd like call dibs on probing my own mind.

As for a definition of crime, that's why it's up to us as voter to elect legislators who won't give away executive powers and write away our liberties, and judges who won't construe laws in some draconian and archane ways or new "innovative" ways to keep their conviction rates up.

Airencracken · 10-17-2005, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedracer120

I don't know. I have to see a device that can read my mind. If there is one, I'd like call dibs on probing my own mind.

As for a definition of crime, that's why it's up to us as voter to elect legislators who won't give away executive powers and write away our liberties, and judges who won't construe laws in some draconian and archane ways or new "innovative" ways to keep their conviction rates up.

Agreed. But look at what we have for gov't today...

speedracer120 · 10-17-2005, 09:28 PM

Surprising enough, I agree with you.

Neo-conservatism has waned. It's time for a new political philosophy/paradigm.

I used to think in HS that a true democracy via use of technology would be plausible, but being older and more "wiser" I see that as contrary to my own political philosophy and see even more so that there is no way with the present state of governance at all levels that it would ever happen.

ski · 10-18-2005, 01:41 PM

This is near and dear to me...

2 years ago, I went around Pennsylvania State Police's barracks and they gave me the keys to their cruisers

so I could perform a radio software update for their data system (handles lookups). Not to be nit picky, but PA's statewide radio system is a 19.2kbps network, and lookups take upwards of 30 seconds, so the cop can't just go zooming around "zapping" every car in sight, so it will probably be used sparingly or inactively searching when you're just cruising around.

There are ways you could make it instant/faster, but they're not implemented now

10-17-2005, 12:50 PM	#1
Itsme Vice Admiral Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,813	License-plate reader gives state troopers instant crime data License-plate reader gives state troopers instant crime data By Joe Grata KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE October 17, 2005 State police on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are experimenting with a high-tech device that reads license plates and provides instant crime information. For example, as soon as Trooper Donald Hardeman pulled over a Honda Accord racing down the toll road at 91 mph in Chester County, an infrared TV camera identified the vehicle as stolen and posted the information on a screen on his console. He called for backup to help remove the three occupants, who were arrested. The Motorola Automatic License Plate Reader "gave us a tactical advantage," said Lt. Adam Kisthardt of the Pennsylvania State Police technology bureau in Harrisburg. The manufacturer chose the Pennsylvania State Police for the test and, without charge to the state, has installed cameras and support equipment on seven turnpike patrol cars. The units are expected to cost about $12,000. "The cameras can read in snow, rain, in bright sunshine or total darkness," Kisthardt said. "They read the reflective lettering and numbers on plates and, in a split second, compare the image to information in the CLEAN network," the statewide database where law enforcement agencies post stolen vehicles, fugitives, all-points bulletins and Amber alerts. For a match that's made instantly, a photo of the wanted vehicle is posted on the screen mounted inside the police car to indicate a "hit." "The beauty of the system is this: As a trooper drives down the road or sits along the road, the equipment reads every license plate he encounters and runs it through the system," Kisthardt said.

10-17-2005, 01:04 PM	#2
speedracer120 Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: HB,CA/PA Posts: 3,437	I have nothing to fear, but still I'm glad I don't drive on the Turnpike. I heard it was hellish this morning. __________________ Off in La La Land

10-17-2005, 02:01 PM	#4
Airencracken Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: California Posts: 6,681	Scary. __________________ "I remember my first orgasm, I just wish someone was there to share it with me..."11-05-2003 05:33 AM - Topane They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, & the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opiate of the masses. - Karl Marx Hell is other people - Jean-Paul Sartre Last edited by Airencracken : 10-17-2005 at 03:01 PM.

10-17-2005, 02:10 PM	#5
cheapie Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: raising my pimp hand strong Posts: 13,038	not good that it reads every vehicle whether or not there's a suspicion of a crime being committed. __________________ 70% of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Bob Sanders

10-17-2005, 04:10 PM	#6
sizemic1 Owww, I feel good! Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Beautiful Temecula CA Posts: 2,002	Doesn't bother me. Definately seems like a good way to track stolen vehicles. Now I would have a problem if it was linked with past criminal offenses that an officier could use to harass me. __________________ [___] (O lllllll O) []==O=[]

10-17-2005, 04:35 PM	#7
InfiniteNothing Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 10,086	Whoah cool. Some people I know wrote software to do that some time last year. I wonder if they were a part of the group. They used matlab. __________________ As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

10-17-2005, 06:57 PM	#9
speedracer120 Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: HB,CA/PA Posts: 3,437	Just stay clean.

10-17-2005, 09:09 PM	#11
speedracer120 Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: HB,CA/PA Posts: 3,437	I don't know. I have to see a device that can read my mind. If there is one, I'd like call dibs on probing my own mind. As for a definition of crime, that's why it's up to us as voter to elect legislators who won't give away executive powers and write away our liberties, and judges who won't construe laws in some draconian and archane ways or new "innovative" ways to keep their conviction rates up. Last edited by speedracer120 : 10-17-2005 at 09:12 PM.

10-17-2005, 09:28 PM	#13
speedracer120 Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: HB,CA/PA Posts: 3,437	Surprising enough, I agree with you. Neo-conservatism has waned. It's time for a new political philosophy/paradigm. I used to think in HS that a true democracy via use of technology would be plausible, but being older and more "wiser" I see that as contrary to my own political philosophy and see even more so that there is no way with the present state of governance at all levels that it would ever happen.

10-18-2005, 01:41 PM	#15
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	This is near and dear to me... 2 years ago, I went around Pennsylvania State Police's barracks and they gave me the keys to their cruisers so I could perform a radio software update for their data system (handles lookups). Not to be nit picky, but PA's statewide radio system is a 19.2kbps network, and lookups take upwards of 30 seconds, so the cop can't just go zooming around "zapping" every car in sight, so it will probably be used sparingly or inactively searching when you're just cruising around. There are ways you could make it instant/faster, but they're not implemented now __________________ And closer...

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