STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — This year, the city of Strongsville will pay Flock Safety $135,750 for 19 license plate recognition cameras.
The ordinance, approved by City Council, states that the system will allow police to "gather evidence and data."
"It's not a speed camera," Flock Safety spokesperson Holly Beilin stressed. "It's not used for traffic enforcement."
Instead, the primary focus will be on matters like crime enforcement, like locating the plate number of a suspected fugitive. Beilin says hundreds of Ohio communities (such as Mentor and Bay Village) already use their technology.
"When a vehicle passes, it takes an image of the back of the vehicle, specifically the license plate," she explained. "The software on the camera then compares that license plate to different state and national crime databases."
The legislation called the agreement "necessary."
"This ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, property, health, safety and welfare," the measure stated.
The agreement includes 15 Flock Falcon cameras, one Flock Falcon Flex camera, and three Flock Long Range cameras. The Falcon camera is the standard license plate recognition camera from Flock Safety, while the Falcon Flex is a mobile camera that can be mounted on a trailer.
Flock also offers a Long Range and a Short Range camera. Strongsville paid for three Long Range devices.
"The Long Range is designed for more highway type environments," Beilin said, telling 3News the cameras are typically installed within three months of the agreement.
The city of Strongsville will pay $63,500 for the cameras by 2025.