Hamilton County plans to add new license plate reader cameras

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is working to implement new license plate reader cameras around the county.

Sheriff Austin Garrett says these cameras will help identify vehicles that have been involved in a crime.

Garrett says they plan to add 121 new cameras. Sheriff Garrett also says the cameras will be running 24/7.

But they haven’t said yet where they will be located.

The cameras to be purchased are mandated by the state, according to the sheriff.

This is a collaboration with the Chattanooga Police Department, Red Bank Police Department, the East Ridge Police Department, and the Chattanooga Housing Authority.

“Crime doesn’t stay in one jurisdiction. Crime that happens in Chattanooga comes to East Ridge, comes to Red Bank, goes to Knoxville, goes to Atlanta. The people committing crimes do not stay in one jurisdiction,” said Sheriff Austin Garrett. “It’s important that every law enforcement agency in this county work together in a partnership. Not separately in a silo or against each other.”

Some county commissioners are in favor of the new cameras. Others say it feels like an invasion of privacy. However, Sheriff Garrett says the information on the cameras will be automatically purged after 90 days.

The cameras cost over $1 million.