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Board approves application for license‑plate reader trial; police say device not for ticketing
Summary
The Fayetteville board approved a resolution to apply for a trial camera system and license‑plate reader. Police representatives said the 60‑day trial is for investigative use and not for issuing traffic citations.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to authorize the police department to apply for a trial camera system that includes a license‑plate reader, city staff told aldermen at the May meeting.
City staff described the item as an application to test a camera system in coordination with the county sheriff’s office. A police representative clarified to the board that the trial would last 60 days and emphasized its investigative purpose: “it’s not for traffic ticketing. It’s for, we will be able to track if there's across the community, state lines, if the other departments are looking for, a suspect or not,” the representative said.
The board moved, seconded and voted to approve the application; a roll call produced a series of “aye” votes and the mayor declared the motion carried. City staff said the trial will be run jointly by the city police department and the sheriff’s office and that the system is intended as an investigative tool rather than an automated enforcement mechanism.
Why it matters: License‑plate readers raise privacy and civil‑liberties questions for some residents. City officials framed the device as an investigative aid to help locate suspects across jurisdictions, not as equipment for automated traffic enforcement.
What’s next: Staff will proceed with the 60‑day demonstration and bring any operational details, agreements or policy changes back to the board as needed.
