60 ALPR cameras now monitor Beaufort County for criminals

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is adding more ALPR cameras throughout the county aimed at reducing crime and protecting the public.

ALPR cameras are used to capture photos of people’s license plates. The plate number provides law enforcement with the name of each vehicle’s registered owner.

Sheriff P.J. Tanner said the cameras can be mounted to buildings or in deputies’ vehicles and placed on trailers that can be moved around to different areas. Cell phones can also be used as ALPR cameras.

The first wave of these devices was introduced last year, costing approximately $200,000.

Beaufort County now has around 60 cameras that do everything from identify stolen vehicles and locate missing persons to track individuals with outstanding warrants or court orders.

Crime reduction results

Since their implementation, Sheriff Tanner said he has seen some crime decrease. Over the past few years, parts of northern Beaufort County have experienced several drive-by shootings, which ALPR cameras have been used to investigate.

“We have cameras now throughout Beaufort County which help us monitor those types of situations,” Tanner said. “So, if we have a drive by shooting at 2 o’clock in the morning at a certain location, we can go back and look at the cameras that are relative to that area and pick up vehicle movements.”

All the information that’s extracted from the ALPR cameras comes from the South Carolina DMV, and Sheriff Tanner said his office isn’t interested in stopping anyone except criminals.