The Niagara Falls City Council unanimously approved a proposal on Wednesday night to implement a system of license plate readers throughout the city, despite some reservations expressed by council members. The initiative, spearheaded by Mayor Robert Restaino and the Niagara Falls Police Department, involves the installation of 24 pole-mounted cameras designed to capture and analyze license plate information.
This initiative is part of a broader four-year plan aimed at enhancing public safety, with the police department asserting that these advanced surveillance tools will aid in crime reduction and improve community safety. The total investment for the project includes $12,100 for the solar powered cameras and an additional $288,000 allocated for cloud-based software, storage, and ongoing support and maintenance.
Funding for this project will be sourced from a New York State Law Enforcement Technology Grant previously awarded to the Niagara Falls Police Department. There is potential for the project to extend beyond the initial four-year period if further funding becomes available.
The specific locations for the installation of the license plate readers will be determined by the police department utilizing crime data to identify areas of need.
Proponents of the technology, including NFPD and other law enforcement agencies, argue that the data collected from these cameras can significantly enhance criminal investigations and provide real-time alerts for urgent police matters. Flock Safety, the company behind the software, highlights its effectiveness in tracking stolen vehicles and identifying suspects involved in serious crimes, as well as supporting recovery efforts during Amber and Silver alerts.
However, one local resident voiced her concerns during the council meeting, stating that the use of plate readers represents a significant invasion of privacy.
“It’s completely unregulated and subject to abuse,” she remarked.
However, both Archie and Myles emphasized the need for oversight regarding how long the data collected by the plate readers can be retained.
Niagara Falls City Council Greenlights License Plate Reader Initiative