Ontario Taking Steps to Prevent Auto Theft in the Town of Smiths Falls

November 23, 2022

Automated Licence Plate Recognition Technology will help fight crime and enhance public safety

Smiths Falls — The Ontario government is providing the Smiths Falls Police Service with $65,944 to help fight crime, including auto theft.

The Smiths Falls Police Service will use the funding to enhance Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology– a system that consists of cameras that automatically scan licence plates. The system is installed in, or on active-duty police cruisers and alerts officers to stolen or expired plates, or plates registered to suspended drivers. The system can also notify officers of missing and wanted persons and vehicles associated with AMBER alerts.

The Automated Licence Plate Recognition Technology Grant is a one-time grant to help police services strengthen roadside law enforcement efforts and improve public safety across the province.

The Smiths Falls Police Service will use the funds to purchase 3 more devices, adding to the 1 ALPR device they already had. The service hopes to have the new devices in rotation early in the new year.

“This funding allows the Smiths Falls Police Service to have an even more direct impact on our community’s safety”, said LFK MPP John Jordan. “ This technology will be a tremendous asset to police services and assist them with incidents of auto theft, finding vehicles involved in an AMBER Alert and enhance public safety.”

The investment in ALPR technology supports Ontario’s recent move to eliminate licence plate renewal fees and stickers for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds by allowing licence plate information to be read automatically without requiring an officer to see a physical licence sticker to validate a vehicle.

John Jordan

Member of Provincial Parliament

Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston

613-284-1630

johnjordanmpp.ca