Cameras that read license plates are all over WeHo now

Automatic License Plate Reading (ALPR) cameras are now monitoring Olive and Fountain and are headed for many other intersections in West Hollywood, too, an expansion of the L.A. County Sheriff Department technology that allows them to identify specific vehicles out of the tens of thousands that pass through town every day.

This past spring, City Council approved 39 new ALPR cameras to be placed across WeHo in undisclosed locations, part of a major investment this year in public safety technologies. The city previously had one ALPR camera at the intersection of La Brea and Santa Monica.

“They are programmed to alert us about stolen vehicles or vehicles involved in serious crimes like murder or robbery,” Bill Moulder, captain of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, told WEHOville in June. “They do not notify us about expired registrations or other minor issues. If a specific license plate is of interest, we can search the system for it, making these tools highly effective.”

At City Council’s Public Safety meeting this month, Moulder noted that ALPR cameras in Beverly Hills were crucial in the capture of the suspects behind the assault rifle armed robbery at La Boheme in WeHo this year.

The cost of the new cameras was $297,000, according to data shared in the city’s Mid-Year Budget Meeting.

While paid for by the city, the ALPR cameras are only accessible to the Advance Surveillance and Protection (ASAP) Unit of the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, which manages all the hardware and data storage for the system.

The city is also in the process of procuring fixed cameras for placement in high-crime areas. (ALPR cameras only take still frames photos; they do not record video.) Drones will also soon be utilized as part of the sheriff’s arsenal, performing a role similar to that of the ubiquitous LAPD helicopters often seen pursuing getaway vehicles or fleeing criminals.

Moulder sees many benefits to having additional surveillance tools at the department’s disposal, particularly the drones.

“It would absolutely improve response times and allow us to focus more effectively on urgent matters,” Moulder said. “For instance, using drones or aerial first responders can sometimes be faster than deploying deputies, especially given the traffic conditions in West Hollywood. These aerial units can provide real-time video feeds to our deputies, helping to quickly identify suspects and clarify situations. Additionally, the use of body cameras and aerial footage would add another layer of transparency to our department’s operations.”