ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando city leaders unanimously approved a plan by the police department to add license plate readers to some parking garages.
The nearly $150,000 in funding would be used to install license plate reading cameras at entrances and exits of select parking garages and a parking lot.
The public safety enhancement project would be a joint agreement between the Orlando Police Department and the city’s parking division.
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If approved, the parking division would allocate $84,687.78 from its budget to pay for cameras covering the entrances of parking garages. The city’s crime center would pay $64,302.44 to cover the exits.
Abby In lives in downtown Orlando and said the installments could add a much-needed layer of protection.
“I think it’ll improve safety,” In said. “If there are more cameras, people would be less likely to go and commit those crimes.”
The council voted on the proposal a few weeks after members received an update on downtown safety.
With multiple shootings in downtown over the last few years, the city started an after-midnight alcohol sales permit program. Orange Avenue was also reopened to vehicles on weekend nights to curb the street party atmosphere.
Miken Daris, who works in downtown Orlando, said he has seen an improvement in security and supports the idea of license plate readers to further enhance safety in the area.
“On busier nights, you’ll see a lot of police traffic out monitoring, seeing what’s going on and just making sure everyone is safe,” Daris said. “With the cameras, we’d be able to identify the person or we’d have a record of the license plate.”