Virginia is experiencing significant growth. Businesses, individuals and families are moving to the commonwealth at an unprecedented rate. This growth has also attracted big tech companies, like Amazon, making substantial investments in our communities. However, with this population boom and increased economic activity, there are also more opportunities for individuals to commit crimes.
This is not unique to Virginia. Law enforcement agencies in the country’s fastest-growing regions have reported an increase in certain types of crimes. Many localities are understaffed and overwhelmed, with low officer retention rates posing a significant challenge. At the same time, recruitment of new officers is at an all-time low.Â
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Law enforcement increasingly relies on cutting-edge technology to keep our communities safe. Transparency and accountability are fundamental to our commitment to serving and protecting the community. We depend on crime-solving technology such as automated license plate recognition cameras.
Since April of last year, our ALPR system has been a powerful tool for our department in Alexandria. The technology captures images of readable license plates and provides real-time alerts to law enforcement officers when a wanted or stolen vehicle is detected. In recent months, the ALPR cameras have significantly contributed to our investigations, leading to the arrest of individuals involved in armed robbery, grand larceny, credit card fraud, identity theft and even the capture of an escaped fugitive from Wisconsin.
Put simply, without this technology, our department would not be as efficient and effective in catching criminals.
In Alexandria, we have found that this technology is crucial in protecting our residents while maintaining privacy standards. The technology scans and detects publicly available vehicle information — license plates issued by the state for official identification purposes — to assist in solving crimes. This data is deleted after 30 days and is accessible only by police departments for law enforcement purposes.
Our department has collaborated with local stakeholders and community groups to address concerns and has adopted commonsense provisions. This sensible approach should be adopted across Virginia to help find missing and endangered children, respond more rapidly to AMBER alerts, combat narcotics trafficking and ensure that wanted criminals are apprehended and kept out of our neighborhoods.
License plate readers have long assisted law enforcement in collecting objective evidence, and municipalities in Virginia have been using this technology for more than a decade. However, in this new era of technology, it is crucial for lawmakers to responsibly regulate ALPR usage so that law enforcement agencies like ours can fully utilize it while also prioritizing transparency, citizens’ privacy and security.
Virginia is at a critical juncture. As community protectors, we hope that our elected officials can develop an innovative regulatory framework for this emerging technology so that regions throughout Virginia can best utilize these technologic advancements. We can improve public safety with transparent policies and accountable leaders to balance efficient crime-solving and personal liberties. By adopting an approach that recognizes the need for new technological capabilities and responsible regulation, we can ensure that our neighborhoods continue to be safe and vibrant places to live.