Encinitas moves to add 17 new license plate reader cameras
ENCINITAS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) – The City of Encinitas is making the move to roughly triple its license plate reader cameras. At Wednesday’s meeting, city council voted unanimously to add 17 cameras throughout the city.
There are seven LPR cameras already existing in Encinitas since 2022.
The city along with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is crediting a reported 14% drop in crime in the last calendar year partially due to license plate reader cameras in both Encinitas and surrounding North County cities.
However, some Encinitas residents have been raising the alarm at city council meetings over what they perceive as an increase in crime in recent months. In a recent example, two local restaurants were broken into, vandalized and burglarized.
According to local law enforcement, the cameras have led to the arrest of offenders within Encinitas including shoplifters, a wanted child molester and those with multiple felony warrants.
Critics say the cameras encroach on driver’s privacy rights. A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 23 million Californians in San Diego Superior Court is set for trial this month, alleging a company sold people’s location data.
The traffic cameras are projected to cost the city about $53,000 already set aside in the upcoming annual budget.
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