Automated Licence Plate Reader System (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

Quebec

City/ Region:

Montreal

Description of Initiative:

Road safety and traffic are of great concern to Montrealers because these factors have a direct impact on the sense of safety and quality of life in Montreal’s neighbourhoods and boroughs. Police officers are major players in the objective to improve road safety.

The environment in which the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) works has changed significantly over the past few years with respect to road safety:

• The car population in Quebec continues to grow: the Quebec automobile insurance agency (Sociéte de l’assurance automobile du Québec, or SAAQ) states in its annual report for 2008 that the number of vehicles registered in Quebec in 1973 was 2,265,471, while in 2008, it had risen to 5,665,272.
• Each day in Montreal, drivers travel on the roads without complying with the Highway Safety Code. Many of them are on the streets in unregistered or unauthorized vehicles or, quite simply, with an unpaid, suspended or sanctioned driver’s licence.
• Some American studies, conducted between 1995 and 2000, showed that 75% of drivers whose licences had been suspended or revoked continued to drive, thinking it was unlikely that they would be stopped. These studies revealed that these drivers represent 17% of those involved in fatal collisions.
• While at the time unthinkable, five years ago the government of Quebec authorized the implementation of technological tools such as photo radar and red light cameras. These tools are now viewed positively, even though they represent an extreme measure of control that is usually not well perceived ("Big Brother" of road safety).
• The public is becoming less and less tolerant of certain behaviours exhibited by drivers, such as those involving driving with a suspended licence for drinking and driving or dangerous driving offences.

• The media places the utmost importance on road safety and contributes to the sense of urgency to act, especially when it comes to repeat offenders for driving with a suspended licence.

Initiative Key Objectives:

The initiative has several objectives:

• increase the perceived risk of being stopped;
• increase the level of safety on our roads;
• improve driver compliance with the Highway Safety Code;
• increase the number of people who are in compliance and pay their licence and registration fees;
• improve the effectiveness and efficiency of police work;
• increase efficiency when looking for missing persons or during Amber Alerts; and
• increase the SPVM’S organizational capacity through the use of modern and effective tools.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Information resources division

Key Contact:

Christian Boisvert
christian.boisvert@spvm.qc.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

• other police services
• private agencies/corporations
• civilian governing authorities
• other government departments/agencies

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

Other police services: consultative; private agencies: cooperative; civilian authorities: cooperative; government agencies: cooperative.

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

Since February 2011

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

This initiative was undertaken to achieve these objectives:

• increase the perceived risk of being stopped;
• increase the level of safety on our roads;
• improve driver compliance with the Highway Safety Code;
• increase the number of people who are in compliance and pay their licence and registration fees;
• improve the effectiveness and efficiency of police work;
• increase efficiency when looking for missing persons or during Amber Alerts; and
• increase the SPVM’S organizational capacity through the use of modern and effective tools.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

The costs associated with the implementation of this project resulted in a return on investment during the first year the system was used.

Proud of the results achieved during the pilot project and aware that such a system brings real gains in terms of both road safety and payments for driver’s licences and registration to the SAAQ, the SPVM made a case to the SAAQ and obtained funding to cover a portion of the cost of equipment.

Method of Implementation:

Phased implementation, beginning with installation on three vehicles to test the system in the field. Thereafter, 30 SPVM vehicles were equipped with the automated licence plate reader system. In addition, the officers using the system received training before being given an access code.

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

Since the automated licence plate reader system is still in the project phase, it is too early to evaluate outcomes. However, the SPVM is already taking steps to ensure that set objectives are met. Planned action includes monitoring of vehicle use to encourage their utilization on the three shifts; reviewing how vehicles are dispatched at the community policing centres and making any necessary changes; and loaning vehicles out for periods of several months.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

Yes

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

The automated licence plate reader system will:

• increase the perceived risk of being stopped;
• increase the level of safety on our roads;
• improve driver compliance with the Highway Safety Code;
• increase the number of people who are in compliance and pay their licence and registration fees;
• improve the effectiveness and efficiency of police work;
• increase efficiency when looking for missing persons or during Amber Alerts; and
• increase the SPVM’S organizational capacity through the use of modern and effective tools.

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

• internal
• quantitative

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

No

Summary of the Outcomes:

N/A

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

• Efficiencies within Police Services

Further Details:

The automated licence plate reader system helps increase the efficiency of police work with respect to road safety. This system makes it possible to check the validity of a large number of licence plates (authorized road use and validity of driver’s licence), as well as more effectively identify stolen vehicles, vehicles involved in an Amber Alert and vehicles of police interest.

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

N/A

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01