Lancaster County commissioners on Dec. 23 authorized a notice to proceed for a $793,715.71 purchase of license-plate readers (LPRs) from Motorola Solutions.

Ben Houchin, chief deputy with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, told the Board the office moved to "lock in the price" for the equipment while the county waits to learn whether a delayed federal grant will arrive. Houchin described how the technology is used operationally and pushed back on common privacy concerns: "People think like when somebody drives by your name pops up, your registration pops up and all that. That is absolutely not true whatsoever," he said. He added that the county retains data for 180 days and that state statute and felony penalties exist to deter misuse of the data.

Houchin also described the agency's long-term interest in a "real-time crime center," citing examples from Omaha where integrated cameras and drones supported call triage and fewer officer responses. The presiding official noted that the Board was "not authorizing drones" as part of the LPR approval.

The Board moved and seconded the notice to proceed; roll-call votes were recorded as affirmative and the motion carried.

Why this matters: LPR systems can accelerate recovery of stolen vehicles and assist some investigations, but they also prompt privacy and civil-liberties concerns. County officials told the Board the purchase is contingent on funding and governed by state retention rules and criminal penalties for misuse.

What happens next: County staff said they will return to the Board with any updates when grant funding is confirmed and as the implementation plan takes shape.