New Lenox Police Install License Plate Reader Cameras To Solve Crimes

NEW LENOX, IL — New Lenox police officials are hoping that the installation of new license plate readers around the village will help solve crimes and alert law enforcement when suspicious vehicles enter the area.

The village recently contracted with Flock Safety to install Automated License Plate Reading cameras, which capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, according to a news release. The cameras do not capture people or faces, according to the company that created the technology for the cameras that are used by several other local municipalities.

The cameras send a real-time alert to police when a car is stolen or when a vehicle that is known to belong to a suspect or person in a state or national crime database enters the village, the company said.

New Lenox Police did not immediately return an email to Patch seeking information about how many cameras have been installed around the village or at what cost. Flock Safety said that is currently in discussions with a Homeowners Association to discuss installing the cameras in subdivisions that would offer the same services to local residents.

The company also said that Flock Safety devices are built with ethical guardrails within the product. The cameras do not record speed or utilize facial recognition, company officials said. The data is never sold or shared with third parties and is deleted automatically after 30 days on a rolling basis to protect citizens’ privacy.