BCSO to purchase license plate readers | News

BEAUFORT CO., SC (WTOC)- Through a federal grant, Beaufort Co. Sheriff's Office is planning on purchasing two mobile automatic license plate readers that would snap pictures of thousands of vehicles passing by. They're also pushing for a stationary unit on Hilton Head Island. They say the technology would give them important information such as the name of the vehicle's registered owner, the address, and the vehicle information. Sheriff P.J. Tanner says the big benefit is that it would allow them to program tags into the system as well. 

"If we have a criminal investigation, a drug investigation, an Amber Alert, a missing persons case, or if we need anything to locate a particular vehicle, we can load the information into the system. If that vehicle crosses that particular intersection, the tag reader picks up the vehicle and it will automatically send a message to the intel center."

Tanner says they are planning to hold a public hearing concerning the purchase of the two mobile plate readers and is hoping to send off for them soon.

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