New Tech Helps Police Catch More Bad Drivers

Motorists who flout traffic laws are being put on notice… police say a new mobile automatic number plate recognition system that officers have just started using has already caught more violators over the past fortnight than the old system did for the whole of last year.

The technology is not completely new – the force has used a similar system since 2015. Cameras automatically scan licence plates to check if there are any problems, including whether the vehicle is properly licensed, or if the driver has been disqualified or is wanted for traffic offences.

However, police say the new system is far more efficient. The old system was placed at fixed locations, and any problematic vehicles identified would have to be chased down by nearby police.

The new mobile system, on the other hand, is fully integrated into eight squad cars, and can constantly scour nearby traffic on the move.

Acting chief inspector Kerry Ku from the force’s traffic headquarters says it’s a far more efficient system, noting that it has already scanned some 108,000 plates over the past two weeks, leading to 215 traffic tickets and 15 arrests – compared to 33,000 scanned for the whole of 2018, with just ten tickets issued and two drivers arrested.

Police say the new system features a new ability to detect stolen vehicles as well.

Officers say they plan to install the mobile system in 17 more police cars next year, and are studying if can check for vehicles that are wanted for non-traffic-related crimes.