Hickory Hills considers buying license-plate readers
By Nuha Abdesallam
Hickory Hills city officials are considering acquiring license plate reading cameras after a presentation by police at last week’s city council meeting.
Flock Safety cameras are already in use by over 150 agencies in Illinois, helping to restrict crime by providing data about where and when vehicles have been tagged on its camera system using artificial intelligence.
If approved, the city would install up to six Flock cameras in locations that would be determined.
Flock cameras are able to improve operational efficiency and accelerate case clearance with a single real-time intelligence solution that provides hardware and software for license plate recognition, character car detection (i.e., car model, color, any distinct markings), and video.
Hickory Hills police said the alerts are valuable in flagging wanted vehicles and a game-changer in emergency cases, such as alerting law enforcement agencies about Amber Alerts, missing persons, and stolen cars.
The Public Works Department has been busy getting its road program ready for the resurfacing project on Kean Avenue, which is expected to start in early or mid-April.
Council members approved a bid of $635,325 with Lindahl Brothers Inc.
The project is scheduled to resurface the street on Kean Avenue and create new crosswalks and sidewalks.
Community members should notice more activity between 95th Street and 76th Avenue in the next few weeks. Hickory Hills City Engineer Mike Spolar said, “With the weather warming up, contractors can get to some under road work now.”
Additionally, the Hickory Hills Police Department Polar Plunge event for Special Olympics is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, in Manteno. Volunteers help raise funds for the Special Olympics by diving into a chilly lake.
The next scheduled city council meeting is Thursday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m.
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LPR are effective in weeding out the criminal element as well as those unfortunate folks who, e.g., for whatever reason forgot to buy their plate sticker or some other less societally impactful infraction.
95th Street drivers are a microcosm of a wide range of “criminal” proclivities, some minor but indicative of more deeper major issues: again, e.g., expired tags, tinted windows beyond 35%, erratic or totally irresponsible driving which puts many “innocent” drivers at risk only because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I drove 95th Street from Pulaski west to the I-294 ramp and EVERY day I would witness atrocious/dangerous/apathetic drivers speeding, weaving, darting, tailgating, et al.
If a plate reader bears out borderline nihilistic individuals with additional evidence of law-breaking elements. At the very least the LPR will “excuse” such drivers from congested and risky roadways.