CARMEL – The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a state grant of $74,000 toward the purchase of automated license plate readers for 12 patrol vehicles.
The funding was secured by Senator Pete Harckham (D, Mount Kisco).
The license plate readers, whether mounted in vehicles or on stationary poles, are digital cameras and computers that can scan the license plates on vehicles passing by, and note the date, time and location. The computer software quickly compares the license plate information with police agency data and offers near-instant notifications of whether a vehicle is linked to an investigation.
“License plate readers have proven to be invaluable for both the law enforcement and public, especially when one considers the case of an older individual that has driven from home and becomes confused and lost,” said Sheriff Kevin McConville. “The ability for law enforcement to search multiple roadways for this person’s vehicle and locate the missing person before a tragedy occurs is made easier with license plate readers.”
