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Sheriff's Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer increasing revenues and appropriations for the purchase of Vigilant Solutions License Plate Reader computer hardware and software systems and maintenance for a not to exceed amount of $675,000. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team Special Revenue and Homeland Security Grant Funds.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On 12/2/20, the Sheriff’s Office requested and received approval for an increase to the Fixed Asset purchase of License Plate Reader units in the FY 2020/2021 budget and has conducted extensive research for the purchase. The purchase of the License Plate Reader system improves the Sheriff's Office abilities to track crime suspects' entry points, respond to kidnappings, and to solve crimes throughout the County as a manner of ensuring public safety, preventing crime and utilizing public information as a means of justice. Nearly seventy percent (70%) of crimes committed involve a vehicle and given that license plates are provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles they are considered public information. Utilizing a License Plate Reader system allows for the identification of vehicles, tracks leads and helps law enforcement capture additional evidence needed to solve crimes. Additionally, License Plate Readers have proven to be an effective method to solve methamphetamine trafficking cases when illegal substances are transported throughout an area. This License Plate Reader System will not be utilized to monitor citizens, but rather a means to protect them from those seeking to do harm in our community.
The Sheriff's Office originally brought this item to the Board on April 6, 2021 but continued the item off calendar for the purpose of completing an internal Automated License Plate Reader Policy. The Sheriff's Office draft Automated License Plate Reader policy is attached for reference.
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