Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office to temporarily get license plate reader

An uptick in crime has local law enforcement turning to some new technology.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office will be borrowing an automated license plate reader for two weeks.

They’re getting the stationary license plate reader on loan, at no cost, from a government agency.

Though some say it could help prevent crime, others see potential issues.

Residents near the Soquel Corridor between Highway 1 and 41st Avenue used to feel a sense of security in their community.

“It’s been a very quiet, safe area,” said resident Lisa Alloin, “You always see people walking their dogs and kids running around.”

But things have changed, quickly.

“Over the last two and a half months we’ve had six incidences involving guns or gun violence,” Sergeant Brian Cleveland with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.

One of those incidents left a 26-year old man dead.

But the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has been looking at new ways to address rising crime, and one of those ways is some new tech.

“It’s an automated license plate reader which we’re hoping to put up on that corridor for a certain amount of time which would allow the Sheriffs Office really to have investigative leads before, during and after a major crime like that,” Cleveland said.

The license plate reader would store that information for a year, making it accessible to law enforcement, which is why some aren’t comfortable with it.

“Get rid of the data as soon as it’s no longer necessary or useful,” resident Peter Gelblum said.

Despite those privacy concerns, the Sheriff’s Office says it will bring huge benefits to the area.

“All these incidents in the past month and a half have had a vehicle either as a getaway vehicle or a shooting that happened and a vehicle description that was broadcast,” Cleveland said, “Had we had a license plate reader that was up at that time we would have been able to narrow our investigative leads down to a small potential amount of suspects.”

The Sheriff’s Office is expecting to get the reader Friday morning and will start training right away.

They say it should be in use within the week.