The Frisco Police Department is rolling out a new license plate camera system to help reduce crime and solve cases quickly.
In a recent press release, the department announced the installation of Flock Safety license plate reading cameras at various locations throughout the city.
The cameras are designed to capture a rear image of vehicles and their license plates as they pass by. If a vehicle connected to a crime, such as a stolen car or one linked to a wanted police suspect, is detected, an instant alert is sent to nearby officers on patrol.
The new cameras will also be able to spot vehicles tied to missing person cases, including those connected to AMBER alerts within the area.
According to Frisco Police, the camera systems are already in use in over 5,000 communities across the country and have been credited with reducing crime rates by as much as 70% in some areas.
As the network of new cameras can capture images of license plates, they will allegedly do so without recording faces or other personal details. Frisco Police further claims that the data or images collected by the cameras may be held for up to 30 days before being deleted and can never be sold or shared with any third-party companies.
The cameras will not be used for traffic enforcement purposes.
“The addition of the Flock LPR camera system is a technological game changer for our community that will allow greater collaboration with surrounding agencies and provide us the ability to better direct our resources to quickly apprehend felony suspects,” said Frisco Police Chief David Shilson.
“I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicle’s Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority for providing over $437,000 in grant money to fund the purchase of the system,” Shilson added.
According to the press release, each search of the camera’s data system will require a valid “justification. ” Further details are available on the Flock Camera Transparency Portal on the Frisco Police Department’s official website.