John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
The Stanford Department of Public Safety will begin installing license plate recognition cameras at campus entrances in the coming weeks, following a trend seen in many Bay Area communities.
Unlike traffic light cameras, these devices, slightly larger than cell phones, will capture still images as vehicles pass by. The images will include the car’s license plate, make and model, and occasionally identifying features such as bumper stickers.
Chief Laura Wilson, director of the Stanford Department of Public Safety, stated that data from these cameras is useful for investigating vehicle-related crimes. "Ensuring the safety and security of campus is our top priority," Wilson said. "Multiple high-impact incidents on campus in the last year involved vehicles. This technology will help us improve our ability to provide a safe environment for everyone in the campus community."
Communities around Stanford, including Palo Alto, San Francisco, San Jose, and Redwood City, already use similar technology. These cameras serve both as crime deterrents and provide real-time alerts if a stolen or wanted vehicle enters an area.
According to DPS, the cameras are not designed to capture images of drivers or passengers and will not be used for moving violations. While some agencies share data collected across platforms like Flock, DPS does not plan to provide access to other agencies.
Additional information about the cameras and policies regarding footage use is available on the Stanford Flock cameras website.
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