More License Plate Readers Coming To DeKalb County

DECATUR, GA -- More DeKalb communities will be able to install electronic license plate readers (LPRs) in their communities, according to a new agreement with Atlanta-based Flock Safety. On Tuesday, the DeKalb County commission unanimously approved a contract with the company allowing communities to purchase LPRs that log the license plates of cars passing by the devices.

Brookhaven police already use LPRs, which had led to several arrests, most recently the recovery of a stolen car back on June 20. In Marietta, Flock Safety said the use of its cameras led police to report much lower crime rates in communities using the LPRs than elsewhere in the city.

While confirming those numbers, a Marietta police spokesman said the department could not attribute the difference solely to the addition of the Flock Safety devices. Marietta police said the department does embrace the "fixed license plate reader" technology and has placed an order for 10 additional units, paying for the devices out of drug asset forfeiture money.

Ten Marietta neighborhoods use Flock Safety LPRs cameras to provide evidence to police and warn would-be thieves that they are on camera.

Flock Safety said its products can read license plates on cars going up to 75 mph, both day and night and from up to 75 feet away.

More: License Plate Readers Contribute To Marietta's Falling Crime Rate