Weston is known as a safe community, but not one to sit back and rest on its past accomplishments; Weston is always searching for ways to better serve and protect its residents.

Police Chief Cavalieri presented the idea of installing LPR’s – Automated License Plate Readers at fourteen entrances/exists to the City and adding Regional Park due to its extensive activities and traffic use.  License Plate Readers are used by law enforcement around the world. Already, 15 cities in Broward County have them in use, 21 in Dade and 13 in Palm Beach County.

An LPR camera automatically captures all license plates that come into view, along with the location, date, and time. The data, which includes photos of the vehicle is then uploaded to a central server.  There is real-time notification to on duty law enforcement personnel regarding vehicles listed on Amber Alerts, Missing Persons, Silver Alerts, Wanted Persons, and All Crimes Bulletins.    The data generated by these LPR’s provides information that police use to generate investigative leads.  It can show where vehicles have previously passed through LPR camera locations.

In summary, LPRs assist law enforcement in detection, identification and recovery of stolen vehicles, wanted persons, missing and/or endangered children and adults, and persons who have committed serious and violent crimes, and enhances the safety of the residents of the city.  

An added benefit of LPR technology is that, when word gets out that a city is surrounded by LPR cameras, it becomes a deterrent to criminals. It is also useful for our detectives, who can officially access the data collected and check for investigative leads or vehicles that were involved in a crime.

POSITIVE RESULTS

BSO Weston is already seeing the benefits of this additional layer of technology in their efforts to ensure Weston remains the safest city in Florida.  On July 16, 2024, deputies responded to an LPR hit indicating a stolen vehicle entered the city via Bonaventure and State Rd. 84. The vehicle was located, occupied by three suspects and subsequently fled from deputies, but were eventually apprehended. Weston District Detectives responded and conducted interviews resulting in full confessions detailing the theft of the vehicle and fleeing from police. The suspects were charged accordingly.

COST

The project’s $768,000 cost will be partially reimbursed by funds available in the Law Enforcement Trust Fund.  The "Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act”, is a Florida Statute that allows law enforcement agencies to seize and forfeit any contraband that have been used in the commissions of felonies. This includes vehicles, vessels, aircraft, real property, cash or any other item of value. The cash or proceeds from the sale of the seized items is retained in the Law Enforcement Trust Funds account for use by the law enforcement agency.