6 events in Passaic County with a date

Plate reader technology helps keep state safer

By: Scott Scherer
Your Turn
Guest columnist

..... Recently, after a domestic violence stabbing in Jackson, investigators were trying to find the suspect quickly. a license plate reader captured the vehicle's plate and helped officers find the accused .Cases like that show why license plate readers - or LPRs - have become one of the most effective tools available to law enforcement. They help investigators identify vehicles tied to violent crimes, track down suspects on the run and respond to crime more effectively with greater speed and precision.
..... In New Jersey, there is growing evidence that this technology can make a real difference.
..... A 2025 evaluation of Atlantic City's LPR expansion found that it was associated with decreases in shootings, motor vehicle thefts and property crime. Though no single tool is a cure-all, results like that show why LPR technology has become one of the most important public safety innovations available to law enforcement. New Jersey should continue backing LPR technology while enforcing the safeguards that govern how it is used.
..... In Ocean City, police used LPR data to help identify a suspect who had hidden cameras in public bathrooms on the boardwalk. It was a disturbing crime, especially in a place used by families and children. Finding the suspect quickly mattered, because it gave police a better chance to stop the conduct, protect potential victims and move the case toward charges before the pron could disappear. This case is a perfect example of how this technology enhances public safety by helping police identify the person responsible before more harm is done.
..... For law enforcement, the value of LPRs is that they tie a vehicle to a time and place and show where it turned up after a crime. In New Jersey, where someone in a car can move trough several towns in a short drive, it can help police track a suspect's movements across jurisdictions and respond more quickly, not just where a suspect was, but were that person may be heading next. In violent cases, that kind of speed can help officers find a suspect sooner and help protect victims who may still be at risk.
..... In the most serious cases, law enforcement is often trying to find dangerous people who do not want to be found. That is where this technology can be especially powerfully. It helps departments make better sue of limited manpower, direct officers to the leads that matter most, and focus attention where it is needed most urgently.
..... Currently, many law enforcement officers are being asked to do more with less; that kind of efficiency is not a luxury. LPRs can determine whether police are able to move fast enough in cases where the stakes are highest and where delays can carry life-or-death consequences. in those moments having a tool that can help law enforcement act with more confidence, coordinate more effectively and make faster decisions is critical. That is why LPRs have become such a valued asset in modern policing.

Technology not being abused

..... New Jersey has a robust system of checks and balances hat governs how the technology is used. that system includes statewide rules on access, retention, training and oversight, as well as a yearly audit to make sure agencies are following them. In the most recent review, 523 agencies were examined, two significant training-related violations were identified and corrected, and no data misuse or privacy violations were reported. That record should reassure the public that the state is not seeing any evidence of widespread abuse of this technology.
..... the state has seen enough to know that LPR technology can make a meaningful difference in public safety. It has helped law enforcement respond in urgent cases, strengthened investigations and given officers another way to confront serious crime in real time. That is not something we should dismiss. It is something we should continue to recognize as an important part of keeping our communities safe.

..... Scott Scherer is a retired sergeant with the Cedar Grove Police Department and a community advocate for public safety.

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