License cameras will start snapping soon on Longboat Key

Longboat Key’s long-awaited license-plate recognition cameras are less than 60 days away.

Contractor L3 Communications was at the Longboat Key Police Department and on the north and south ends of the island, where cameras will be placed, for a test run yesterday and to ensure hardware and software compatibility.

The late Police Chief Al Hogle first proposed the idea in February 2010. But there were problems with where to place the cameras. The Florida Department of Transportation wouldn’t allow for placement of the cameras in its right-of-ways, and Florida Power & Light Co. told the department it couldn’t place cameras on its poles.
Two cameras will be placed on the Longboat Key side of both bridges — one to capture data from vehicles entering the Key, the other for vehicles leaving the Key — for a total of four cameras.

The data captured will immediately be sent through crime databases. Longboat Key police will receive notification if the images contained information about a stolen vehicle, wanted person or missing person case, such as an AMBER Alert or Silver Alert. The data will also alert police if the registered owner of the vehicle has a suspended license or tag violation.

The cameras will not photograph drivers.

For more information, pick up a June 6 copy of the Longboat Observer.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].