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High Tech Device Spots 59 Stolen Cars

Automated License Plate Readers Used in San Bernardino

By G.T. Houts
Friday, October 9, 2009

Update - Friday 5:45 a.m.

San Bernardino, CA - Four camera equipped police cars in San Bernardino are being used to spot stolen vehicles and the high tech device being utilized has identified 59 such vehicles.

In addition to the 59 vehicles that have been recovered by the Automated License Plate reader (ALPR) systems, 15 people have been arrested for driving stolen cars.

ALPR units, in use since March of this year, also cover regular patrol beats and respond to calls-for-service.

(Photo by San Bernardino Police Department.)

Original Story

San Bernardino, CA - Mountain residents who head down the hill to San Bernardino may see four camera equipped police cars, which will be used to spot stolen vehicles and other vehicle code violations.

In December 2008, the City of San Bernardino approved the use of $115,000 in federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Technology Grant funds to purchase four "Automated License Plate Reader" (ALPR) systems and the associated supporting computer hardware/software for use in the Patrol Division.

(Photo by DMV.)

A Police Department spokesperson stated delivery and installation has taken place, and the initial tests have begun.

Four black-and-white patrol sedans have been equipped with computer hardware—and camera hardware—that will allow the camera system to search for stolen vehicles, while the officer patrols the streets of the city.

The patrol cars will be divided between the four patrol districts, and are expected to be on the street 20 hours a day (two full shifts each day).

An officer can use the mobile computer in the patrol car to run about 100-200 license plates during a single shift. The ALPR system will check about 5,000 cars during a shift.

A group of officers have been testing the vehicles, while software updates and final adjustments are made to the cameras.

During the first six test shifts, the camera equipped units checked over 22,008 license plates. Two stolen cars have already been recovered (valued at about $18,000).

Expect to see the cars patrolling the streets daily by the middle of this month.