Police and number plate reading gear.

[Grrrrrrr!]

Has anybody heard anything about this?

According to a workmate the police in Manukau/auckland now are in possession of a van equipped with numberplate reading gear, meaning they can drive it thru a car park and get a list of every car in the carpark, and whether they have valid Rego/WOF.


They are also (planning?) using it for checkpoints, parking it beside the road before you get to the breath test and having it notify them of WOF/Reg/Outstanding Warrants before your in the queue.

I dont really have a problem with them checking wof/reg etc, but the idea of them logging all this data and building profiles of law-abiding citizens does piss me off rather a lot. I thought this sort of shit was only in the US/UK.

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Yep, they bought them back in 2008 at a cost of $5m. I've seen one in action at a Manukau City carpark, with marked cop cars near the exits in case someone tries to make a run for it.

Their main purpose is to identify stolen cars and people of interest (disqualified drivers, people with warrants out for their arrest etc) but it wouldn't surprise me if they're just as focused on expired registrations and WOF's.

Here's an article that explains how it works:

http://www.corporatecam.co.nz/ANPR.html

[Bling]

I'd happily give up a bit of privacy if it means the likes of stolen cars are found etc. what information are you upset they will be able to gain?

[XSVWGN]

went through a booze bus a little while back now that had one before the booze bus. AMPR is what the are called in the UK. They get people that havent payed their tax, disqualified drivers and people with warrents out. I think they are awesome!!!


Matt

[rollaholic]

as much as i love the idea of stolen cars being recovered, unsafe cars being taken off the road etc

im not so sure about the potential for a gradual decline into a 1984-esque 'big brother' state

[Leon]

the Police don't even have enough staff to cover burglaries and stuff like they'd like to ... I'd suggest that this means they won't have enough staff to start a Big Brother Is Watching Your Numberplate project. They'll just be doing enforcement on expired reg + wof, or people driving with rego on hold etc.

[Luke - BZG]

AMPR is what the are called in the UK. Matt

It's ANPR isn't it? automatic number plate recognition.

[strx7]

AMPR is what the are called in the UK. Matt

It's ANPR isn't it? automatic number plate recognition.

or is it Anal, Nit Picking Retards?

[l1ttle_d3vil]

the idea of them logging all this data and building profiles of law-abiding citizens does piss me off rather a lot. I thought this sort of shit was only in the US/UK.

I don't get what profile they can build on me, based on reading my numberplate as I drive down the road? Other than maybe the road I drive each day.

If it means every time a cop drives passed a stolen car they are told its stolen, then I think its a good thing. There would be a lot of criminals that drive passed cops in a stolen car and the cop wouldn't look twice at them.

[~SlideWays~]

Definitely happy if it can identify stolen cars or even stolen number plates.

Maybe then my 200sx will finally be recovered

If it can just be driven through car parks etc then surely the driver doesn't even need to be a cop which would solve part of the limited police numbers problem.

[Kiwi-Corolla]

If it can just be driven through car parks etc then surely the driver doesn't even need to be a cop which would solve part of the limited police numbers problem.

Correct, however in the case of a stolen car or a warrant for someone's arrest, the Police must be present to apprehend the suspect(s). Expired WOF's and registrations on the other hand could just result in a fine being sent to the owner's address.

[Bling]

AMPR is what the are called in the UK. Matt

It's ANPR isn't it? automatic number plate recognition.

or is it Anal, Nit Picking Retards?

You sure its not nit picking about what a front cut and a nose cut is?

[Quint]

Expired WOF's and registrations on the other hand could just result in a fine being sent to the owner's address.

Cool, being sent a fine because i've let either one lapse by a few days, they'll sure be putting a stop to crime!

[~SlideWays~]

If it can just be driven through car parks etc then surely the driver doesn't even need to be a cop which would solve part of the limited police numbers problem.

Correct, however in the case of a stolen car or a warrant for someone's arrest, the Police must be present to apprehend the suspect(s). Expired WOF's and registrations on the other hand could just result in a fine being sent to the owner's address.

I'd say it would come down to Joe Civilian, in the scanner mobile, contacting HQ to dispatch the AOS. Well that's my preferred response to car theft anyway.

[Bling]

Expired WOF's and registrations on the other hand could just result in a fine being sent to the owner's address.

Cool, being sent a fine because i've let either one lapse by a few days, they'll sure be putting a stop to crime!

Tough luck I guess. Rego is done online in about 1 minute, they even send out reminders in the mail. You can also set up car jam to remind you.

[wde_bdy]

Cool, being sent a fine because i've let either one lapse by a few days, they'll sure be putting a stop to crime!

Well it will clear up the "I was just on my way to get it" arguement if you still haven't got it when you get the fine two weeks later. If you have since corrected it then writing in will likely see the fine waived.

Callum

[Mr Ree]

I can see why it might make some uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, if you keep your car legal, then there isnt much to worry about.

The reality is you have been watched for years in one way or another, this is just another way of keeping tabs on vehicles.

There are more positives than negatives from where Im standing as I dont steal cars, and I always keep my cars legal. And if my car was ever stolen, I would be very happy if an ANPR van found it in westfield carpark while the flatpeaked cap wearer who stole it was just popping in to withdraw his dole cheque from an ATM so he could buy his weeks supply of ciggies and drink to get him through the boredom of being an unemployed bum.

[tsoob]

I have no problem with this.

I own 3 cars, all of which are rego'd and warranted.

If you dont pay it you deserve to be fined. if you car aint up to wof standard you again deserve a fine.

[Mr Ree]

I have no problem with this.

I own 3 cars, all of which are rego'd and warranted.

If you dont pay it you deserve to be fined. if you car aint up to wof standard you again deserve a fine.

Exactly!

If you own a POS car and try to avoid paying for WOF and REGO and INSURANCE, so you can have that money to spend on other things, then expect no sympathy from those who have always paid their way when you get fined for being a slacker.

[xsspeed]

Polise are trialling number plate recognition cameras on the Newmarket Viaduct up here, so one camera reads your plate, then when you pass the 2nd camera it works out how long it took you and what your average speed was.

Not currently enforcable (ie no tickets) but I imagine its not far away.