Scanning cams give scofflaw cars the boot

(Stages in the recognition of a California license plate.)

Plainfield could certainly learn a lot from Cook County, Illinois, and I don't mean about political organization.

Word comes today via the Chicago Tribune that scofflaws in the Windy City have a new worry.

The Department of Revenue's 'boot vans', that scour the city looking for vehicles that should be 'booted' for traffic violations, will have new cameras by the end of August which will allow them to scan cars on both sides of the street while driving by.

The scans use license-plate recognition technology that feeds the scan into the city's computerized scofflaw database. Those with three or more outstanding traffic tickets will have an immobilizing 'boot' applied to the car -- meaning the owner will have to cough up the fines or else.

You can see a YouTube video of the technology here.

Says here it will pay for itself. Hmmmmmm.

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License plate recognition technology --

• Chicago Tribune: "High-tech cameras give cars the boot"
• Wikipedia: "Automatic number plate recognition"
• YouTube: "Automated License Plate Recognition"

-- Dan Damon

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