With over 50 years in public safety, I’ve witnessed how innovation and technology have transformed community protection. One such technology is the emergence of License Plate Reader (LPR) technology, which has practical and affordable public safety benefits for communities of all sizes and budgets to use. In fact, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has administered grant programs in recent years to support municipal police departments’ integration of this technology into their ongoing operations.

Many Pennsylvania municipalities have adopted LPRs, enabling law enforcement to quickly identify stolen vehicles, aid in Amber Alerts, apprehend DUI drivers and combat human trafficking. Fire departments also benefit from LPRs, using them to ensure fire lanes are open, to guarantee access to water sources, manage department vehicles and support investigations related to arson or suspicious activity.

Despite the clear advantages, national debate persists due to privacy concerns and misconceptions about data ownership. Any uptick in neighborhood crime carries profound economic, social and human consequences. LPR technology is a reliable and effective public safety tool that’s proven to keep communities safe. Let’s not invent theoretical fears, advance misconceptions or adopt policies that impede how LPR technology is deployed in our neighborhoods.

Jerry Brant

Patton