License plate readers give area law enforcement high-tech edge

CELINA - A high-tech device is helping local law-enforcement officials quickly determine whether people in passing cars represent a threat or are wanted for arrest.

Local officers have been using License Plate Readers 900, or LPR's, since 2011, and officials wish they could afford to equip each patrol car with one.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey said he immediately saw the units' value.

"We can't be silly or naive enough to think that a person hasn't passed through our county that has been a threat to someone or a threat to homeland security," Grey said. "These devices are used to help law enforcement find people we would not know are breaking the law otherwise."

The information comes from a "hot list" issued by the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles or other law-enforcement agencies. Officers enter the data each day and store the information for 30 days.

"That's nice because say there is a murder suspect from a couple of counties over," Grey said, we can enter his plate number into the reader and see if he's been passed by one of the deputies who has the unit. If so, or if the car was sitting in say the Walmart Shopping Center or at a local motel, then we'll know when the suspect's car was here, which could lead to other evidence or information."

Grey remembers an incident in which two deputies were discussing scrap metal thefts: One deputy mentioned a certain truck he suspected may have been involved.

"We checked and sure enough we got back information on the truck and were able to make arrests," Grey said. "We've caught speeders that way, too. I have a policy that we don't get into a high-speed chase with someone for speeding. But your tag is going to get put into our units and we can get you then."

The units cost up to $22,000. They swiftly read a vehicle's license plate, note its exact location and alert an officer if the plate has been reported stolen or is expired or if the car is owned by a missing person. Officers can also enter the plate numbers of cars being sought as part of Amber alerts, murder or bank robbery investigations or other reasons.

Grey's department has three units, one for each shift. His department paid for them with Homeland Security grants in 2011. He also obtained one for the Celina Police Department at the same time.

Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon's department purchased two units with Homeland Security grants in 2011 and, like Grey, wishes he had more.

"They're slick," Solomon said. "I wish we had the money to put them on every car. They are great tools for law enforcement."

"We use them as a tool in other investigative ways," Solomon said. "They have assisted units in going to serious calls to still be able to respond faster and be able to later retrieve the license plate from a vehicle they passed."

Sgt. David Robison of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Wapakoneta post, said while local troopers don't have the units, they are used in the Dayton area.

"They've been a very effective tool," Robison said. "We've used them at OVI checkpoints which has been great. We don't run every plate that comes through a checkpoint but the reader will and we've been able to get stolen cars, expired tags and even suspects that are wanted or known to be armed."

Celina police have one unit and chief Tom Wale said he, too, wishes he had more.

"They're great for running through a parking lot or the hotels trying to find a stolen car," Wale said. "We can use them for a lot of our investigations."

While officers praise the devices, the readers do have their drawbacks. They cannot tell which state issued a plate, so an officer being alerted must determine if the tags match up.

Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Dan Adams said if a car is stolen in Ohio but he passes a car from Indiana that has the same tag number, the alert will sound.

"I do have to check on the screen to make sure it's from the right car," Adams said.

The devices also cannot tell if the plates are on the correct vehicle or on a vehicle at all.

"It recognizes numbers and letters so it will even hit on road signs or mailboxes. I have to laugh sometimes because I pass a certain sign almost every day and every day the unit tells me the sign is stolen. But, it's an excellent tool and one I'm glad I have."