OCOEE, Fla. — 9 Investigates learned cameras that can capture and track license plate information will soon be watching cars moving through another city in Orange County.
Investigative reporter Karla Ray learned Ocoee would be one of the only areas in Orange County where those license plate readers would stand alone inside speed trailers.
“It is sort of like a big brother, kind of,” resident Brian Hacker told Eyewitness News.
9 Investigates obtained bid documents that indicate the system would be different than in-car license plate readers used by dozens of agencies across the state.
Ocoee’s system would stand alone inside speed trailers that also warn drivers to slow down if they’re going over the speed limit. Hundreds of license plates could be scanned per hour, regardless of speed.
“So basically whoever is coming in, they’ll know who it is? That’s big brother,” resident Dennis Langford said.
No one from the Ocoee Police Department responded to our repeated requests for information, but the bid documents show the police department specifically wants software with the ability to customize “hot lists” of license plates, the ability to review historical data, and the ability to search vehicles and plates after they’ve been recorded and stored. The documents indicate the information would be kept for 90 days.
9 Investigates found only one other similar speed trailer with a plate reader, in Winter Park. Officials with that agency told Eyewitness News the information is only used for intelligence purposes.
Drivers we spoke with worry unmanned readers won’t actually reduce crime.
“They'll be gone before they can even respond, so again, what's the point except keeping track of people moving around town?” Hacker asked.
Ocoee’s City Manager told Eyewitness News the readers will be used to enhance enforcement of expired license and tags. The city has budgeted around $60,000 for the new equipment.
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