Amid an ongoing struggle by the Missouri State Highway Patrol to hire troopers, the administration will spend $243,750 this year to add 21 more license plate readers to a growing arsenal of the devices spreading across the state.
According to bidding documents, the state’s contract with the Atlanta-based Flock Safety went into effect Aug. 1. It builds on a 2023 program that put 43 license plate readers in 11 mostly rural counties in mid- Missouri.
“The use of this technology enhances law enforcement capabilities, particularly at a time when there is a shortage of personnel,” said Missouri Department of Public Safety spokesman Mike O’Connell.
Parson and state lawmakers have worked to boost the wages of state troopers, approving raises of more than 20% in recent years, but recruiting new officers has remained an issue.
In 2022, for example, the state’s police force was down more than 100 troopers.
While the license plate readers have the support of law enforcement, the devices have drawn criticism from civil liberties advocates who worry that the devices amount to full-scale government surveillance of unsuspecting motorists.
The devices also have drawn the attention of state lawmakers.
In January, Sen. Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s Summit, introduced legislation to prohibit the purchase and use of license plate readers in most instances because of privacy issues.
“I think most people are a little bit reluctant to be tracked all the time. It’s just one of these things with government and technology, we’re being watched more and more and more,” Cierpiot told Missourinet.
The measure did not advance.
Officials say the information collected by the readers is only used if a vehicle matches the description of one that’s wanted for a crime.
O’Connell said the readers are programmed to scan for plates and vehicles that have been identified on so-called “hot lists” that are suspected of criminal involvement. The lists are updated every 15 minutes.
O’Connell said the first round of plate readers has helped police identify the location of missing juveniles, assisted in the arrests in multi-state retail crime rings and helped capture murder suspects and jail escapees.
“(The readers) have already proven their usefulness in helping solve homicides, abductions, human trafficking cases, jail escapes as well as property crimes around Missouri and around the country,” O’Connell said.
The state’s foray into license plate readers comes as county and local police also are positioning them along roadways in the St. Louis region.
Last year, St. Charles County officials installed 40 new license plate readers along major roadways, including Interstate 70, Interstate 64 ( Highway 40), and Route 364 (Page Extension).
The cameras, which record a vehicle’s license plate, make, model, color and other identifying features, marked the latest phase in a major initiative to install readers around the county to assist in crime investigations.
Among other cities to make use of the tool are Ballwin, Brentwood, Bridgeton, Eureka, St. Ann and others.
In Illinois, state police have installed at least 75 readers in the Metro East region to monitor vehicles on interstates in Madison and St. Clair counties.
©2024 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
