New license plate recognition cameras to go up in town on trial basis
New 12-foot cameras will go up at key intersections around town. The cameras are produced by Flock Safety, and are used to recognize license plate numbers for law enforcement efforts.
The Select Board approved a trial program of 4 cameras at a July 10 meeting, at the request of Chief Brian Levesque.
The system is not used for traffic enforcement, as the practice is illegal in the state of Massachusetts. The police department hopes to use it for recognizing stolen vehicles or identifying vehicles used in other crimes. For instance, the camera system could ping the police department when a plate from the stolen vehicle list shows up in town.
The cameras would cost Dartmouth $3,000 per year per camera, plus an installation fee of $650 per camera. If the trial program goes well, Levesque said he’d look to buy about 20 cameras, putting the total price tag at $50,000 per year, plus $13,000 in installation fees.
“This is not new technology, but it’s something we’re looking to bring here in town to make us a little more effective,” Levesque said.
The technology is used in other nearby towns, including Fall River, Westport and Wareham.
Flock cameras have become popular across the country for both individuals and police departments, but ACLU chapters have been prominent critics of the technology, alleging privacy concerns and worries that it could be used by immigration authorities to deport undocumented people. The ACLU of Rhode Island is actively pursuing legislation to limit the use of Flock cameras after Providence installed 25 of them.
Select Board member Shawn McDonald asked whether the department would let residents know when the cameras were installed. Levesque said he’s not opposed to putting out a press release about the program, but disclosing the cameras’ exact locations would compromise their purpose.
The trial program for Dartmouth was approved unanimously.
Editor’s Note: The initial online version and print version of this article incorrectly named Select Board member Shawn McDonald. We regret the error.
