CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Illinois State Police said the first phase of a project to install automated license plate reading cameras along the expressways is now complete.
The cameras are being installed on Chicago area expressways. The first phase of the project has been completed with the installation of 99 cameras on the Dan Ryan Expressway, Illinois State Police said. Approximately 200 additional license plate reader cameras are to be installed elsewhere over the next year.
State Police said the Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) have already proven effective in aiding law enforcement investigations in the apprehension of numerous suspects involved in expressway shootings and carjackings.
It is noted that the images from these cameras will not be used for petty offenses, such as speeding.
The ALPR technology is a critical component that Illinois State Police (ISP) is using to respond to “in progress crime” and the ALPR data is now a regular tool in ISP’s arsenal to further investigations related to expressway violence.
When the cameras record the plate of a car that was reported stolen, for example, there’s an automatic alert sent to police. They can also be used after a shooting occurs to identify anyone in the area.
“These cameras give us the technological edge to pursue leads and identify suspects on the Chicago expressways,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “As technology advances, so must law enforcement. The ISP will continue to lead from the front.
"Let me be clear, criminals who commit serious crimes on the expressways will be caught and held accountable. The ISP are committed to ensuring public safety on the Chicagoland expressways and across the state,” he concluded.
Last year there were more than 200 shooting incidents on Chicago area expressways.
The Illinois State Police continues to urge the public to please contact them at (847) 294-4400, if they witness a shooting or have any information, which would assist in this or any investigation. The ISP also encourages the motoring public to try to safely obtain a license plate of vehicles involved in criminal conduct, when possible, and to report any information to the ISP.
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