Orange has made a major move to enhance its crime-fighting efforts by announcing plans to install dozens of license plate readers and video cameras throughout the city. This initiative, aimed at catching criminals traveling through Orange, signifies a significant step forward for the city in terms of adopting cutting-edge technology for law enforcement purposes.

Police Chief Dan Adams, addressing the City Council, acknowledged that Orange has been “a little bit behind the curve” when it comes to utilizing advanced crime-fighting tools. The addition of license plate readers and video cameras will enable law enforcement to gather vital information on vehicles entering and exiting Orange, which can then be shared with neighboring agencies to apprehend suspects on the move.

According to a City Council staff report, Orange is home to numerous retail establishments that are frequent targets of organized retail theft and other crimes. Criminals are able to quickly access freeways in any direction, making it easy for them to escape apprehension. The implementation of these surveillance devices is expected to provide greater deterrence, broader coverage, and more detailed information for law enforcement agencies to solve cases effectively.

Orange joins a growing list of Southern California cities that have integrated license plate readers and video cameras into their crime-fighting strategies. Costa Mesa recently added 15 license plate readers, while the La Cañada Flintridge City Council approved the installation of 37 license plate readers in 2020. In a similar vein, a neighborhood group on Melrose Avenue raised funds to install plate readers following a series of criminal incidents in the area.

Despite the benefits of these devices in combating crime, they have not been without controversy. A state audit in 2020 highlighted the significant privacy risks associated with license plate readers, indicating that law enforcement agencies had not adequately safeguarded the privacy of the images they capture.

Orange City Council took a definitive step forward by approving an agreement with Insight Public Sector Inc., a Virginia-based consulting firm, to lease 43 license plate readers and 13 video cameras for a two-year period. The cost of this program amounts to just over $410,000, with funding sourced from capital bond funds after a year-long search for financial resources.

Manufactured by Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based license plate recognition company, these cameras will record crucial details such as the make and color of a vehicle, as well as the number of times it passes by. The data will be stored for a period of 30 days, allowing police to set up alerts for vehicles of interest. It is important to note that the cameras will not be utilized for traffic enforcement purposes, such as identifying speeding or red light violations, and do not possess facial recognition capabilities.

City Councilmember Jon Dumitru emphasized the importance of investing in various crime-fighting methods to maintain a low crime rate in the city, underscoring the significance of this technological upgrade. The new surveillance technology is expected to not only help apprehend existing criminals but also serve as a deterrent for future criminal activities.

Dumitru shared a personal experience that highlighted the effectiveness of such cameras, recounting how a camera at his parking spot captured the license plate of a suspect vehicle involved in theft from his truck. By sharing this plate information across the county, authorities in Costa Mesa were able to detect the same vehicle using license plate readers, ultimately leading to an arrest. This successful collaboration demonstrates the power of a regional effort in combating crime.

With the installation of license plate readers and video cameras set to be completed within a few months, Orange is poised to strengthen its law enforcement capabilities and enhance public safety in the community. The proactive approach taken by the city in embracing this technology reflects a commitment to leveraging innovation to combat crime effectively and protect its residents.