Toowoomba Road Policing Unit, Senior Constable Maria McCallum, explains the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system. Toowoomba Police traffic branch. Bev Lacey
TWIN infrared cameras mounted on marked highway patrol cars are helping police detect registration violations and infringements.
The Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems have been in use across the Darling Downs for about a month and the crime statistics virtually speak for themselves.
Toowoomba Road Policing Unit officers download a new database each morning before clocking on for their shift, gathering information from the Department of Transport as well as the police network.
Officers then hit the roads with the software detecting and capturing number plate and registration details of every vehicle it passes.
It takes the onboard computer mere seconds to alert the officers of any outstanding infringements or warrants against the person listed as the main driver and owner.
Road Policing Unit Senior Constable Maria McCallum said that, while the system had been in use by police for the past year, it was becoming more accessible and was being used more around the state.
"We do get misreads and have to make sure that, where we have set up, gives us a clear look at oncoming traffic," she said.
"The infrared cameras mean it doesn't matter if it is day or night when patrolling."
Snr Const McCallum said the system was helpful when a new "be-on-the-lookout" report came in.
She said it was possible to flick back through the images taken by the cameras to determine if the wanted vehicle had passed by.
The ANPR-enabled patrol cars have been in force across the Darling Downs as part of Operation Crossroads over the holiday period.
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