New police technology will help get dangerous drivers and unregistered vehicles off our roads even faster, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Police Lisa Neville today announced that Motorola Solutions is the successful tenderer for new Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology that will start to hit the streets from February next year.
The number plate technology, part of a $43.8 million investment from the Labor Government, will significantly boost Victoria Police’s capacity to target dangerous drivers and unregistered vehicles.
The cameras can scan up to 2,500 number plates per hour, checking for unlicensed drivers, unregistered or stolen vehicles, drivers with interlock conditions, and motorists with outstanding warrants.
The in-car video technology will provide Highway Patrol members with the ability to record audio and video footage of road policing activities, including roadside intercepts.
The high-quality recording can be used as evidence in court hearings and will help de-escalate situations and protect police members through the public’s awareness that they are being filmed.
The new technology will be progressively fitted across the entire Highway Patrol fleet of 221 vehicles by March 2021. It is expected to result in fewer deaths and serious injuries on our roads saving the state almost $31 million per year in road trauma-related costs.
The technology is part of a more than $500 million investment from the Labor Government in new police technology, including 10,000 iPhones and iPad Minis to frontline police and Protective Services Officers and 11,000 body worn cameras.
The Labor Government is also investing in an intelligence system upgrades for Victoria Police and a new 24-hour Police Assistance Line and Online Reporting portal.
Ten new state-of-the-art Alcohol and Drug Test buses were delivered as part of a $15 million Victorian Budget 2015/16 investment to replace Victoria Police’s ageing fleet.
These technology and equipment upgrades are supporting the Government’s $1.4 billion Towards Zero 2016-20 road safety strategy, which is delivering safer roads and protecting Victorian motorists.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Lisa Neville
“We’re equipping our Highway Patrol with the latest new technology that will remove unregistered vehicles and dangerous and unlicensed drivers from our roads even faster.”
“This will not only make our roads safer, it will also help protect our police officers while they’re carrying out their duties of enforcing the law and keeping Victorian motorists safe.”
“This is part of a massive technology boost and upgrade for Victoria Police as part of our record investments in new technology, specialist equipment and 3,135 new police delivered to communities across the state.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020