Posted online: May 10th, 2007

Number plates will be scanned as they pass mobile checkpoints

By Chris Ashmore
Traffic cops in Donegal will soon be embarking on a major clampdown on stolen and untaxed vehicles as well as those breaking the speed limit.
New high-tech Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems are set to be introduced later this year.
And this will mean that the Garda can quickly identify vehicles being driven by people who are breaking the law.
A number of Garda cars will be fitted with the special equipment which will cost in the region of €50,000 per unit.
“This technology will restrict the ability of criminals to use the road network. The system operates by downloading a file of stolen or missing cars and untaxed vehicles from the Garda’s Pulse computer database,” a spokesman explained.
The specially fitted Garda cars will have two small infra-red cameras – one pointing forward and one back – and these will scan passing number plates.
If the plates are on the database, the gardai in the car will be alerted.
The system will also enable the Garda to trace stolen or suspect vehicles with Northern Ireland registration plates.
Furthermore, the cameras will also be used to detect motorists who are speeding.
However, the system will not alert the Garda about whether a vehicle is insured or it if has an up-to-date NCT certificate. But this may subsequently be discovered if the motorist is stopped.
Meanwhile, it was reported this week that 600 new speed cameras are on their way nationally. It is understood that around 20 will be located in Donegal.