CC SR 20151215 04 - Automated License Plate Recognition CamerasCITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
DOUG WILLMORE, CITY MANAGER vvvJ
DATE: DECEMBER 15, 2015
SUBJECT:
Project Manager:
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION CAMERAS
Gabriella Yap, Deputy City Manager ·t
RECOMMENDATION
1) Authorize staff to purchase six (6) Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR)
cameras and installation from the Sheriff's negotiated vendor (expected to be
Vigilant Solutions) under the terms negotiated by the Sheriff's Department, in an
amount not-to-exceed $90,000, for the locations at Palos Verdes Drive South
(PVDS)/251h Street and near Palos Verdes Drive West/Marguerite Drive.
2) Authorize staff to proceed with necessary infrastructure improvements needed at
Palos Verdes Drive West (PVDW)/Marguerite Drive location.
3) Direct staff to continue working with the neighboring Peninsula cities on a joint
regional project to install additional ALPR cameras near the gateways and bring
back an agreement to the Council for consideration and approval.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted Amount: $
Additional Appropriation: $
New Amount Balance: $
8,400
169,000 ($90,000 cameras+ $75,000 infrastructure+
$4,000 ongoing)
177,400
Account Number(s): 101-1024-421-61-00
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of our public safety efforts and in response to the increasing number of residential
burglaries, staff is requesting authorization from the Council to purchase Automated
License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras for locations at Palos Verdes Drive South
(PVDS)/25th Street and near Palos Verdes Drive West (PVDW)/Marguerite Drive. The
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PVDS location has been prepared and has an existing camera, but staff is requesting
authorization to proceed with preparing the site at PVDW and Marguerite Drive with the
necessary infrastructure. Staff is also requesting direction to continue working with the
neighboring Peninsula cities on a joint regional project to identify strategic locations to
install additional ALPR cameras near the perimeter of the peninsula in order to capture
the maximum number of vehicles entering the area.
BACKGROUND
The cities of Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV), Rolling Hills Estates (RHE), and Palos Verdes
Estates (PVE) have seen a tremendous spike in Part I crimes (see Exhibit 1 ). In RPV, the
most alarming has been the residential burglaries as can be seen on the attached GIS
maps (Exhibit 2). In response, the Council added two more patrol cars designated to
patrol RPV and is actively seeking new ways to reduce crime in the City.
The topic of using Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) has been discussed by
the Peninsula Regional Law Enforcement Committee, which is made up of the Peninsula
cities that contract with the Sheriff's Department: RPV, RHE, and Rolling Hills (RH). ALPR
is a technology that allows a camera to scan a large number of license plates quickly in
an objective manner and compares the data to a number of police databases. Law
enforcement is notified if there is a match to one of their databases. These cameras can
be fixed (mounted on the roadside) or mobile (mounted on patrol cars).
The Regional Law Committee agreed to jointly purchase one ALPR-equipped patrol
vehicle. RPV also individually contracted for one patrol vehicle to be equipped with an
ALPR camera. The Regional Law Committee is looking at the possibility of fixed video
cameras at high-traffic intersections and asked the Sheriff to return with some analysis
for their February 2016 meeting. They had identified 4 locations to be preliminarily
reviewed:
• Hawthorne Boulevard, north of Palos Verdes Drive North in RHE
• Crenshaw Boulevard north of Palos Verdes Drive North in RHE
• Palos Verdes Drive North east of Palos Verdes Drive East in RHE
• Palos Verdes Drive South at 25 1h Street transition in RPV
An ALPR camera at the Palos Verdes Drive South at 25th Street location was
implemented as part of a pilot program. The pilot program consisted of the Sheriff loaning
an existing camera for 3-6 months at this location. There were originally two cameras
loaned to the City, one facing toward San Pedro to see outgoing vehicles, and one facing
RPV, to see vehicles coming into the City; however, only the camera facing RPV is
working as the outward facing camera was not functioning. The Sheriff had requested
parts for the second camera to be fixed; however, it is a few years old and out of warranty.
In addition, the Sheriff is currently in negotiations with a new vendor.
DISCUSSION
Originally, staff was planning on bringing this item forward as part of a Draft Public Safety
Strategic Plan in January, but due to the urgency of the issue of residential burglaries and
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home invasions, we are recommending moving forward with the purchase and installation
of some of the ALPRs ahead of the other items in the plan. This is also sooner than what
was anticipated at the Regional Law Committee.
As mentioned above, many of the other cities are experiencing the same concern with
the crime spike and our staff and the Sheriff's Department are partnering with the other
three Peninsula cities to create a more effective network of ALPR cameras that would
target the Peninsula's perimeter, thereby increasing the odds of making the entire area
safer. PVE and RHE are especially interested, which is helpful to RPV as the main
gateways to the Peninsula fall within those cities. The ALPR cameras have the potential
to prevent crimes by notifying patrol vehicles when there is a "hit", such as stolen vehicles,
vehicles with warrants over $26,000, and lost or stolen plates, which will result in more
efficient deployment by both PVE Police Department and the Sheriff's Department. They
have also been proven to assist in solving crimes by being able to use them to search for
the license numbers of suspicious vehicles (based on descriptions) in certain
intersections at specified time frames.
Below are some figures obtained from the Sheriff's Department regarding the fixed and
mobile ALPR systems. The camera covering west-bound traffic at PVDS/25th Street was
installed on September 8, 2015, but the power was not on until mid-month. The stats for
this camera were pulled as of November 3, 2015, so less than two months of data and
149,276 scans have produced the following data:
September
October
November
Total Scans
28,616 (partial month as power was switched on mid-month)
111,476
9,184
149,276
Total Hits per Hotlist from PVDS/2Sth
STOLEN VEHICLE 3
LAGO WARRANT 13
(LA County Warrant vehicles over $26K)
LOST OR STOLEN PLATE 6
(Reported vehicles with Lost or Stolen Plates)
CSAR (INFORMATION ONLY) 14
(Calif Sex and Arson Registrants)
TEST PLATE 1
This technology is by no means the cure-all for crime, but for some background on the
effectiveness of license plate recognition systems, the following are some findings
discussed in 'A Report on the Utility of the Automated Licence Plate Recognition System
in British Columbia" written by professors at the School of Criminology and Criminal
Justice at University College of the Fraser Valley. In different studies done by the PA
Consulting Group in 2002 to 2003 and between June 2003 and June 2004 1, the wide use
of fixed and mobile ALPR devices in the United Kingdom resulted in more arrests and
1 PA Consulting Group. (2004 ). Driving Crime Down -Denying Criminals the Use of the Road.
Great Britain, Home Office. Accessed July 21st, 2007 from http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-
publications/publication/operational-policing/Driving_ Crime_ Down_-_ Deny in l .pdf?view=Binary
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better efficiency in the deployment of officers. In a four-month study conducted by the
State of Ohio in 2004, they found that the State Highway Patrol apprehended 23 criminal
suspects and recovered 24 stolen vehicles, results that were 50% higher than the same
time period one year previous (McClellan, 2004)2 .
Staff is requesting authorization and funding to:
• Purchase 2 ALPR Cameras ($15,000 each, $30,000 total) for PVDS/251h Street
transition to be installed as soon as received. ETA: 4-6 weeks for delivery,
installation and configuration
• Purchase 4 ALPR Cameras ($15,000 each, $60,000 total) and install Infrastructure
($50,000-$75,000 estimated) for PVDW near Marguerite (close to border of PVE)
to be installed as soon as received. ETA: 6-8 weeks for infrastructure, 4-6 weeks
for delivery, installation and configuration
• Provide for ongoing costs related to cellular service and electricity ($2,000 per
location/per year, $4,000 total)
The Sheriff's Department is currently in negotiations with a new ALPR vendor, Vigilant
Solutions. The negotiations are a multi-item discussion of many variables including, but
not limited to: pricing, management, extended warranties, data access and management,
hosted data solutions, and other security and legal requirements. Much of the timing will
depend on these discussions and the Sheriff's schedule for configuration.
Each fixed ALPR camera is estimated to cost $15,000 per camera per lane (the camera
can only monitor one lane at a time). The contractor (likely Vigilant Solutions), working
together with the Sheriff's Department, would be responsible for installation and
configuring the cameras to work with the Sheriff's ALPR system, and would assist with
future warranty and repair. We are estimating $50,000 for the infrastructure at the site,
but much of it will depend on whether or not there is a pole in place, access to electricity,
and cell connectivity (which would require $1,500-$3,000 for the network equipment. In
the absence of cell connectivity, fiber would be needed and is estimated to cost up to
$10,000.
Staff is also requesting direction to move forward in coordinating with RHE, PVE, and RH
on identifying additional ALPR locations. RPV would take the lead with the working group,
made up of the Sheriff, PVE Police Department, and staff from all four cities, to identify
the best locations not only in terms of chokepoints, but also in regards to existing poles,
power, and cellular connectivity for better cost-efficiency. At this point, it is estimated that
there would be cameras located near the following additional locations:
• 4 Cameras (2 northbound and 2 southbound) for Hawthorne Boulevard, north of
Palos Verdes Drive North in RHE
• 4 Cameras (2 northbound and 2 southbound) for Crenshaw Boulevard north of
Palos Verdes Drive North in RHE
• 4 Cameras (2 northbound and 2 southbound) for Palos Verdes Drive North east of
Palos Verdes Drive East in RHE
2McClellan, P. (2004). Automatic Plate Recognition Evaluation Ends with Positive Results. Accessed
July 22, 2007 from http://www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/colcolumn/2004/AutoScanner-2.htm. 4
• Sites in PVE to be determined, but it is anticipated that there will be at least two
(2) locations (one at the Palos Verdes Drive North entrance coming into PVE from
Torrance and at Via Valmonte coming in from Hawthorne Blvd.)
A meeting is scheduled for December 16, 2015 with the Sheriff, PVE Staff and PD, and
staff from RPV, RHE, and RH to identify in more detail sites that would be good locations
for fixed ALPR cameras, and to determine if they have existing infrastructure such as
poles of sufficient height, power, and in an area with cell service in order to reduce costs.
These sites would then be evaluated by Sergeant Gaw and his team from the Sheriff's
Department to determine their feasibility.
It is expected that the cities would share in the cost of the future sites in RHE and PVE,
and we have received positive indications from staff in our three neighboring cities.
However, final recommendations would have to be presented to their respective City
Councils for approval. Currently, the formula that RPV, RHE, and RH were anticipating
when discussed at the Peninsula Regional Law Enforcement Committee was
68%128%14%, respectively. Now that PVE is interested in joining the group for sharing in
the cost of installing the ALPR's, the percentages will likely be lower for the current
Regional Law Committee cities. All four cities benefit by getting ALPR coverage at the
key roadways and intersections entering and leaving the peninsula.
CONCLUSION
It is the belief of the Sheriff's Department, PVE PD, and the staff of the various cities
that we will be more effective in crime prevention and apprehension if we join our
resources together and look to protecting the Peninsula as a whole. Authorizing staff to
proceed first with installing our own ALPR cameras at PVDS/251h Street transition and
PVDW/Marguerite Drive would help to address the rising burglary rate and heightened
public safety concerns in the short-term. In the slightly longer-term, it would be ideal to
continue working with the other Peninsula cities to identify strategic locations for more
ALPRs to create something of a "guard gate" for the Peninsula.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could choose not to fund one or more of the cameras requested at PVDS/251h
Street and PVDW/Marguerite Drive. The Council could also direct staff to discontinue
work with the other cities on the Peninsula and pursue a different direction in our crime
prevention efforts.
Attachments
1) Rancho Palos Verdes Part I and Part II Crimes for 2014 and 2015 (page 6)
2) Maps of Residential Burglaries in RPV (page 10)
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Homicide
Rape
Robbery
Aggravated Assault
Burglary, Residence
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PART I-2014
Burglary, Other Structure
Vehicle Burglary
Theft from Vehicle
Other Larceny I Theft
Grand Theft Auto
Arson
Total 87 120 130 154
6
PART II CRIME ACTIVITY COMPARISON
2014
7
Homicide
Rape
Robbery
Aggravated Assault
Burglary, Residence
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PART I-2015
Burglary, Other Structure
Vehicle Burglary
Theft from Vehicle
Other Larceny I Theft
Grand Theft Auto
Arson
Total 138 129 140
..,-,·
8
PART II CRIME ACTIVITY COMPARISON
2015
9
2015 CRIMES: RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
TORRANCE
PALOS ./ERl)ES EST1HES
Legend
• Residential Burglary
--Street Centerlines
c::J cityofRPV
D Adjacent Cities
ROLLING HILLS
Total Residential Burglaries: 158
*some occurrences are not geolocated on the map
LOMITA
PV Reservoir
_os NGEI ES
Qf]
N
1 ! 10
Legend
• Residential Burglary
--Street Centerlines
c:J cityofRPV
D Adjacent Cities
2014 CRIMES: RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
TORRANCE
ROLLING HILLS
Total Residential Burglaries: 144
* some occurrences are not geolocated on the map
LOMITA
S ESTATFS
PV Reservoir
1-0S ANGFLES
~
N
1 t 11
Legend
• Residential Burglary
--Street Centerlines
c:J cityofRPV
D Adjacent Cities
2013 CRIMES: RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
TORR.A.NCE
ROU .NG i-JILLS
Total Residential Burglaries: 139
* some occurrences are not geolocated on the map
L011/11A
PV Reservoir
LOS ANGELES
~
N
1
Miles t 12
Legend
• Residential Burglary
--Street Centerlines
c:J cityofRPV
D Adjacent Cities
2012 CRIMES: RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
TORRANCE
RC:... JNG HILLS
Total Residential Burglaries: 118
*some occurrences are not geolocated on the map
LOMITA
PV Reservoir
LOS ANGELES
Q[]
N
1 i 13
Legend
• Residential Burglary
--Street Centerlines
CJ cityofRPV
CJ Adjacent Cities
2011 CRIMES: RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
TORRANCE
RO~LING HIL S
Total Residential Burglaries: 119
* some occurrences are not geolocated on the map
LOMITA
PV Reservoir
LOS ANGELES
~
N
1
Miles i 14
Legend
• Residential Burglary
--Street Centerlines
c::J cityofRPV
D Adjacent Cities
2010 CRIMES: RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
TORRANCE
ROWNG HILLS
Total Residential Burglaries: 118
* some occurrences are not geolocated on the map
LOMITA
PV Reservoi r
LOS ANGELES
Q[J
N
1
Miles ~ 15