Malaysia to use car-plate recognition cameras

KUALA LUMPUR • To nab motorists who have not paid their traffic fines, Malaysian police will soon begin using 20 automated number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.

The cameras, which can be mounted on a police car, will be able to detect and flag any passing vehicle whose registration number is linked to an outstanding traffic summons in the database of the police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Police could then stop the vehicle and take the necessary action against the driver.

The cameras will be deployed at strategic areas in about two months, including nine immigration entry and exit points into Malaysia which have been identified for their use.

Federal traffic police chief Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff said the police would be looking into making greater headway against "hardcore traffic offenders" with the delivery of the cameras.

"A total of 1.06 million outstanding summonses have yet to be settled and we are looking at bringing down this number," said Datuk Mohd Fuad.

Vehicles used in criminal activities will be similarly flagged.

"The CID and Narcotics Crime Investigation Department will also benefit from the use of the system," he told reporters on Monday.

The ANPR image-capturing hardware could be mounted on any police car deemed fit, including unmarked police cars, he added. "The system has been designed so the camera will be placed on the dashboard of our vehicle and will be aimed at oncoming vehicles. When a vehicle passes by, the camera will capture an image of the number plate and send it to the police database."

The system is more efficient than police roadblocks, which inevitably result in traffic snarls, he said.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 07, 2015, with the headline Malaysia to use car-plate recognition cameras. Subscribe