After only one day on the job, new Tasmania Police mobile technology is proving its worth.

The Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) device was fitted to a Police vehicle in Hobart and deployed for the first time yesterday.

ANPR scans number plates for a match against a “watch list” made up of stolen or unregistered vehicles, vehicles owned by a disqualified driver or by someone considered a “person of interest” in a police investigation.

When a vehicle on a watch list passes by the ANPR camera, a message appears on the attached laptop computer, prompting an interception by police.

Already serious offences are being detected from minor traffic matters. Within an hour of operation, a female driver was intercepted for driving an unregistered vehicle, after being detected by the ANPR device.

Then further offences were detected including disqualified driving, warrant outstanding and drug offences. The vehicle was clamped and the woman was detained for court.

ANPR technology is an additional tool to enhance existing road safety strategies to reduce crashes and improve traffic law compliance – there is a high representation of unlicensed and disqualified drivers in serious accidents.

Other police districts will receive an ANPR device next month.

Tasmania Police Media and Marketing Services
(03) 6230 2296