The Aurora City Council this week approved buying license plate readers and associated software to use at Chicago Premium Outlets mall in the city.
Aldermen voted Tuesday to purchase the license plate readers from Aurora-based Scientel Solutions, and the software for them from Motorola. The City Council also voted to make an agreement with Chicago Premium Outlets, located near Interstate 88 and Farnsworth Avenue, to use them there.
The city is timing the work now because it is using three different grants to pay for the equipment and installation, and they have to be used by the end of June.
The contract for the software will be with Motorola and will not exceed a total of $87,000. That will provide two services – the software for data from the license plate readers, and for integration with the existing FUSUS system the city has for public safety.
A separate agreement will be for $61,520 for purchase of the license plate readers with Scientel Solutions, LLC, which has an existing contract with the city for its public safety purchases of cameras and similar equipment.
The grants involved are a $1.2 million Rebuild Distressed Communities grant, an $85,630 grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and a $2.28 million COPS Technology and Equipment Program grant.
Parts of all three grants can be used for license plate readers, installation and services.
The lone vote against purchasing the license plate readers and software was Ald. John Laesch, at large, who asked specifically if the license plate readers flag people on the city’s gang list.
Aurora Police Lt. Andy Wolcott said police flag people suspected in criminal activity.
“That may or may not include someone on the gang list,” he said.
Wolcott said the license plate readers take a photo of license plates, but that no one is specifically targeted through the operation.
In the past, police have used license plate readers to locate people involved in shootings and retail thefts, as well as to locate stolen cars, people who are suicidal or possible amber alert kidnappings.
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office has pushed use of license plate reader programs.
slord@tribpub.com
