Crime Prevention Cameras to Provide Forensic Investigative Tool

Crime Prevention Cameras to Provide Forensic Investigative Tool

Sugar Land, TX - Sugar Land’s Crime Prevention Camera program is now operational.

The $1.6 million contract for crime prevention cameras at 27 locations, mostly north of U.S. Highway 90A in Sugar Land, was approved by City Council last year.

The project creates a network of license plate recognition cameras at entrances and exits to the City to help identify, arrest and convict criminals. Performance reports presented to City Council on a quarterly basis will be used to consider expansion of the system into other areas of Sugar Land.

The police department has used license plate recognition (LPR) cameras for approximately six years at three locations in Sugar Land Town Square and the First Colony Mall area.

The City’s expanded use of LPR cameras at static locations throughout the City will help solve crimes after they occur by providing police officers a searchable database of license plates. The concept works as follows:

• A crime occurs.
• A witness provides a vehicle description.
• A police officer authorized to access the system searches the database for the suspect vehicle and its license plate number.

The system may also serve as a crime deterrent. If criminals know that cameras are in place, they may be less likely to commit crimes in Sugar Land.

The cameras will record the exterior of vehicles for the purpose of capturing license plates. With the exception of emergency situations or special circumstances, there will be no live monitoring of the system.

License plate records will be retained for no more than 30 days, except when used as evidence as part of a criminal investigation. Information will not be shared with the general public, unless required by law for law enforcement matters. The use of the LPR system will be consistent with privacy laws and the constitutional rights of individuals.

Read more at https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/crimecameras.