License Plate Readers Installed Around The University of Florida’s Campus
Gainesville Florida Dec 1 2020 License plate readers have been installed at 16 intersections surrounding University of Florida’s campus as a crime-fighting measure, but some say the technology raises privacy concerns.
LPRs scan every license plate that passes and runs it through databases, helping law enforcement find stolen vehicles and wanted persons. This data can be shared with other departments across the state if they request permission.
The $1.3 million UF project aims to proactively fight crime, said Joseph Souza, UF physical security director. He was involved in the initiative to install these devices on University of Central Florida’s campus prior to working at UF. Installation of the Vigilant Solutions, a Motorola-owned company, technology was the first phase of a two- to three-phase project.
Current locations where the devices are installed include University Avenue, Archer Road, Southwest 13th Street and Southwest 34th Street. More cameras will be installed in 2021.
The American Civil Liberties Union pushed for legislation that addressed privacy concerns relating to LPRs. It called for assurance that they will only be used by law enforcement agencies and that the government will not store data about innocent people. It also pushed for people’s right to find out what plate data is registered for them and for disclosure from any entity that uses them.
Laws relating to LPRs are established on a state-by-state basis. As of Oct. 23, 16 states, including Florida, had statutes that expressly addressed the use of LPRs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ website.
“We’re not doing anything that other agencies aren’t doing,” said Souza. “And UF really isn’t interested in monitoring anybody’s whereabouts with the exception of those that are linked to criminal activity.”
Information collected by UF LPRs will only be shared with other police departments, said Souza. It is specifically in collaboration with GPD, which only has one mobile LPR.
GPD Capt. Mike Schentrup said that the system logs anytime someone looks up a plate.
“We can always go back and figure out who’s been running who,” he said. “There’s checks and balances. Officers can’t anonymously run tags and look for exes or something like that.”
He also credited LPRs as an effective way to limit biases that may trickle into investigations.
“There’s no way a license plate reader can be prejudiced against somebody,” said Schentrup. “They set the example for something that is colorblind, that’s really the perfect word. It’s only the license plate that the technology is looking at.”
Other efforts to increase security on campus include better lighting, security cameras and access regulation with identification cards.
“We want to do everything in our power to have students want to come here because they know it’s a safe environment,” said Souza. We want to be the best in the state university system, if not a model for the rest of the country.”
