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Lexington police say license plate readers are working

The Lexington Parking Authority unanimously approved a deal with the City of Lexington to restore former, longer free metered parking.
John McGary
/
WEKU
The Lexington Parking Authority unanimously approved a deal with the City of Lexington to restore former, longer free metered parking.

An update on the use of Flock license plate readers was on the agenda of Tuesday’s Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council work session.

Lexington Police Department Sgt. Tyson Carroll provided the council with a list of things a license plate reader, or L-P-R, is not used for.

“It’s not used for speed or red light enforcement. It’s not used for targeted enforcement in neighborhoods. It's not used, or it’s placed evaluated based on patterns of reported calls for service violent crimes throughout Fayette County.”

Carroll said LPRs have helped recover 129 stolen vehicles, 15 missing people and 45 firearms.

First District Councilmember Tanya Fogle took issue with part of the presentation she said implied the NAACP and ACLU approved of the cameras. Police Chief Lawrence Weathers responded.

“That was the truth, we did consult with them. As far as data requested, we've said several times that we don't gather information based on council districts, just by sectors.”

Weathers was referring to Fogle’s request that crime data be available by council district. Lexington has 25 LPRs, made by the company Flock, in place, with plans to install another 75. Weathers said he doesn’t want to reveal the location of the 25 LPRs until all 100 are in place.

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John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.
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