Roanoke Police using Automatic License Plate Scanners

Another step in the continuous surveillance mode that increases everyday across Virginia and the nation. Police in Roanoke, VA are now using license plate scanners as noted in this story about locating stolen vehicles.

What is good news for anyone who's car has been stolen is very bad news for anyone who happens to have an outstanding criminal warrant or suspended driver's license.

How these license plate video scanners work is they literally scan and check the license plate of every car within range of the video camera, mounted on a police car. They work while the car is either stationary or moving, and can check thousands of plates per hour.

The plate numbers are cross checked with a computer in the police cruiser that has a frequently updated database of license plates, and their owners. If the owner of the car is known to have an outstanding warrant, or a suspended license according to the Virginia DMV database, the police officer is instantly alerted, and your car is pulled over and you are arrested.

This technology is cheaper and more widespread everyday. If you local Virginia police department isn't using it yet, they likely will be soon. And many of these databases are nationwide, and linked together. So if you happen to have a warrant from 10 years ago in California for missing a court date, or skipping a court ordered payment, you are at risk of arrest at anytime, just for driving down the street.

Please contact us for help with any old criminal warrant, or if you've been caught driving after your license has been suspended. We may be able to help.