License Plate Recognition System To Be Installed At Mackinac Bridge

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thunderstruck88

New member
Posted: 10/4/2010
Security upgrades are coming soon to the Mackinac Bridge.

Local law enforcement agencies are using a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to install a license plate recognition system.

These special cameras will scan all license plates crossing the bridge and compare them to a national database for terrorist watch lists and wanted persons or vehicles.

If there is a match, the system will immediately notify police.

The Mackinac County Sheriff says the only time the system would capture any data is if it has a reason to.

As far as the average person goes, he says they will not be tracked.

9&10's Christina Vecchioni and photojournalist Justin DePrekel have more details
 
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squat

New member
I was thinking about this the other day. I cross it every other week and was thinking "what if they try to fly a plane into this thing"?
 
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skidoodood

New member
rjgoniea said:
more than likely they'll use it for nailing people with expired tags. At $100 a pop, it'd probably pay for the cameras in short order.
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They're not that high of a resolution to catch expired tags. We've had a system in place here at the bigger airport in Chicago for a few years now. It is pretty amazing what they can catch though, even at different speeds. As far as catching "bad guys", it all depends on what database the plate numbers are run against.
 
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harvest1121

Well-known member
I live south of Chicago I know a town called Minooka has a camera in a squad that reads your plate going by. They were complaining about it but it did catch some people with warrants. I just got a $50 ticket from the Will Coounty Forest Preserve. I forgot to renew my sticker. You think they would be patrolling the trails rather then be parking police. But I guess it did not help the week before I asked them if they do anything besides riding in a truck and I guess kinda said they were worthless. So I guess my mouth cost me on this one.
 
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rjgoniea

New member
skidoodood said:
They're not that high of a resolution to catch expired tags. We've had a system in place here at the bigger airport in Chicago for a few years now. It is pretty amazing what they can catch though, even at different speeds. As far as catching "bad guys", it all depends on what database the plate numbers are run against.
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Trust me, if they can read your plate, they don't need to read the tag in the corner. Got nailed a couple months ago at night while I was doing the speed limit. All the cop needs to see is the color of the tag since it changes every year. Mine was only a couple days out of date at the time, still in the month printed on the tag. The only way the cop could "know" was by running the plate #.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
I will just put it out there is it the feds job to spend my money on a private corporation? that is a private road is it not? I did see the system in action at mt Rushmore 3 0r 4 yrs ago they knew my name when I pulled up kinda cool
 
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thunderstruck88

New member
if ths would stop one person that was nutz and was trying to do something bad to that bridge I am glad they did this This bridge is too valuble to not try and defend . Also if something would ever happen to that bridge how long would it take to replace and the cost in replacing it to They may have just cause in doing this as this Bridge is a National Landmark to like the Arch in St Louis and other momuments to Just food for thought :)
 
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chad66

Member
My guess is that there probably not too worried about a terrorist bombing the bridge. The bridge is a bottle neck and probably the easiest place for the camera to be effective.

Chad@M&M
 
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ezra

Well-known member
it wont be a bridge prob a subway at rush hour a busy mall or a stadium full of people or there dream a big basilica on Easter
 
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skidoodood

New member
rjgoniea said:
Trust me, if they can read your plate, they don't need to read the tag in the corner. Got nailed a couple months ago at night while I was doing the speed limit. All the cop needs to see is the color of the tag since it changes every year. Mine was only a couple days out of date at the time, still in the month printed on the tag. The only way the cop could "know" was by running the plate #.
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Yeah, I guess you're right. If your plate is in the database they run it against as expired tags, they got ya. We show all different info on the plates all the way down to unpaid parking tickets.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
Oh this is fun! I love the idea. It is called law enforcement. If I have to buy tags for my stuff than so should everyone else. If it gets a drunk, murderer, back child support, wife beater, terrorist, etc. Etc. Off the street then let us have it on the bridge. I suspect those who" forget their tags also forget trail permits". Fine them hard Michigan needs the money. You think Canada doesn't check your tags when you go there. Keep the yoopers safe from the trolls.
 
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G

Guest
I can't believe they haven't had something like this in place for years. Over here at the border they have had very good cameras for many years. They know who is supposed to be driving the car as well as outstanding credit card balances and past due alimony. It is all tied together. Also the main purpose for all the unmanned aircraft is for surveilance. You can't see them but they can see you quite well. Very high resolution photos from very high in the sky. They can literally see if you have dirt under your fingernails. License tabs are tiddly winks. Big brother has some very nice toys.
 
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larry_d

New member
You would be surprised how much info that anyone can get online without being with any goverment agency. Did you see those awesome pictures on the post "took to the sky" That had to be a great time for sure. In one photo there is the tail number of the plane. Me being a aviation dork looks it up. Within a minute I see all of Wes from Chicago info. Nice plane by the way. I understand that this has nothing to do with the bridge, but rather the personal info people can get from registration numbers from a car to an airplane. Over - LD
 
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