North Las Vegas Police are adding eight new license plate readers after receiving a state grant of nearly $180,000 through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, officials said. According to KTNV, the new devices will be installed in high-traffic areas and locations with higher rates of auto theft and violent crime.
The city already uses mobile readers on patrol vehicles and fixed units, including one at Craig Ranch Regional Park. City documents show the department recorded over 19,000 violent crimes and about 26,200 property crimes from 2019 to 2023, with future maintenance costs to be covered by the city after the five-year grant ends.
Traffic officer Darren Rigsby said the tech is meant to do some of the legwork that short staffing makes harder. “It’s extremely difficult, because also, nationwide, we’re seeing an unprecedented time where people are not wanting to be law enforcement officers as much,” Rigsby told reporters, as reported by KTNV. He described LPRs as tools that rapidly scan nearby plates, check them against databases of stolen vehicles, wanted suspects and missing people, and alert officers if there’s a hit so they can respond.
Privacy Concerns And Data‑Sharing History
Civil‑liberties groups warn that LPRs can plug into broad surveillance networks beyond local cases. Records obtained by the ACLU of Northern California show more than 9,000 ICE agents were granted access to an automated license‑plate database maintained by a private vendor under a roughly $6.1 million contract — a point privacy advocates cite when pushing for strict limits on ALPR programs, as per ACLU. Local transparency efforts reflect ongoing scrutiny of North Las Vegas’ program: public‑records requests have sought details on equipment, locations and policies, and correspondence released via MuckRock shows the department regularly responds.
Part Of A Valley‑Wide Push
North Las Vegas’ rollout mirrors moves across the valley: Henderson added dozens of pole‑mounted ALPR cameras last year through a grant‑funded expansion, and the city of Las Vegas installed a network of readers downtown ahead of New Year’s festivities, as mentioned by the City of Henderson and Las Vegas Review-Journal. Agencies tout the cameras’ role in recovering stolen property and flagging suspects, even as debates continue over oversight and data‑retention rules…