San Francisco Mayor London Breed has signed legislation to allow the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to begin installing 400 Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) to address public safety issues in the city.
“We are making progress disrupting crimes and we are sending a message that San Francisco is not tolerating criminal activity of any kind,” said Mayor Breed. “While we are continuing to build back our police force, it’s the smart thing to do to incorporate technology that supports the hard work our officers do every day to take care of our city and arrest those who think they can break the law in San Francisco.”
“These license plate readers can play a critical role in disrupting retail theft, car break-ins, sideshows, and other criminal activity,” the mayor said.
The city said the legislation funds the new ALPR cameras and the SFPD can now begin the process of installing 400 new ALPR cameras at 100 intersections across San Francisco. To get the cameras installed as quickly as possible, Mayor Breed has instructed SFPD to work with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, both of which have existing pole infrastructure that can be used to mount the cameras.
“Installing a network of Automated License Plate Readers across the city will greatly assist our officers in keeping San Francisco safe,” said Police Chief Bill Scott. “These cameras will be a force-multiplier, helping our hard-working officers to identify vehicles used in crimes and to apprehend offenders more quickly and precisely.”
To pay for the new cameras, the city is using grant money from the State of California’s Organized Retail Theft Grant Program, which provides funds to local law enforcement agencies across the state to combat organized retail theft.
“Automated license plate readers will help make San Francisco safer for all residents,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “Implementing this technology as quickly as possible will provide a powerful deterrent for criminal activity and investigative tool for law enforcement and prosecutors in the courtroom.”
