Why is Stanislaus placing cameras near cannabis dispensaries to read license plates?
Stanislaus County authorities are expanding a license plate-reading system to spot stolen cars and assist law enforcement in curbing other criminal activity.
A plan to place the next group of cameras with enhanced capabilities near licensed cannabis dispensaries raised a few questions this week.
The county Sheriff’s Department for several years has used a basic license plate-reading system in contract cities to capture images of license plates and help determine if motor vehicles have been reported stolen.
Authorities are building a more sophisticated countywide network, training cameras on main traffic arteries in unincorporated areas around Modesto and in Riverbank, Hughson, Waterford and Patterson.
Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors approved a subscription agreement to use IntelliSite advanced technology to provide sharp images of stolen cars and suspect vehicles to the Sheriff’s Office. Those new cameras will be positioned near 16 approved cannabis businesses in Modesto, Empire, Denair, Hickman, Keyes, Crows Landing and Westley.
One resident asked that the item be pulled from the consent agenda and told county supervisors it looks like the system is targeting legal cannabis dispensaries and may be an invasion of privacy.
Emerson Drake of Modesto pointed out the enhanced system is so powerful it can read decals on car windows. He speculated it must be able see inside a vehicle.
Board Chairman Vito Chiesa replied there is no intent to watch customers who are patronizing cannabis outlets.
The funding for the camera system is coming from the county’s legal cannabis program, which collects fees from licensed dispensaries and growing operations. While the camera system will watch for stolen cars at key intersections, county officials said it will also enhance protection of licensed cannabis businesses, which may be targets of crime.
Chiesa said the location of the cameras should be associated with cannabis businesses because they are the source of funding.
Shannon Vidal, receiving manager for the Cali Kosher Empire dispensary, said Thursday she is not concerned about the new law enforcement camera planned for the intersection of Yosemite Boulevard and Frazine Road in Empire.
Vidal said the camera location is the next intersection west of the dispensary. Cali Kosher Empire has multiple security cameras watching different areas of the business site, she noted.
“I don’t think it is targeted at us. It is great to have cameras for security,” Vidal said.
A co-owner of Jayden’s Journey dispensary in north Modesto said he doesn’t have qualms about placing a law enforcement camera nearby at Kiernan and Pentecost.
“We have been here for more than four years and never had any issues,” said Jason David, part owner of the medical and recreational cannabis dispensary. “Most of our patients are seniors in need of medicine. I would rather keep them safe than anything else. I don’t think we have much to be worried about.”
Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Luke Schwartz said cities throughout the county have turned to the department for their opinion on the new cameras.
Although Schwartz did not have data about how often the cameras are used or how effective they are, he said they have been a “valuable tool” for assisting law enforcement out in the field. He said the new ones should be even more effective.
“This is kind of an upgrade for us,” Schwartz said.
Because the dispensary fees are used to help pay for the cameras, Schwartz said it makes sense to have cameras in places that could help if burglaries or robberies occur at these businesses.
He could not say whether cannabis dispensaries are subjected to more crime than other businesses.
“We just want to be as prepared as we can be in case something does happen unforeseen,” Schwartz said.
Automated license plate readers are a law enforcement tool in a county that has ranked in the top 10 for car thefts nationally and ranked No. 1 in four of the years from 2007 to 2019, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. For the first time in more than a decade, Modesto and the rest of Stanislaus County did not make the top 10 list for metro areas last year.
Capabilities of new camera system
According to a county staff report, the current automated plate-reading system has limited capabilities.
The new cameras will give investigators an enhanced view of vehicles, allowing them to see the make, model and exterior color. It can pick up details such as dents, weathered paint and window decals, the staff report said.
Along with the ability to track stolen cars and stolen license plates, the Sheriff’s Office also can use the system to spot vehicles related to other criminal activity. The system can send information to the dispatch center to alert deputies that a wanted vehicle is in their area.
The cameras near licensed marijuana businesses will be installed at Kiernan Avenue and Pentecost Drive in north Modesto; Kiernan Avenue and McHenry; Pelandale Avenue and Detroit Lane; Yosemite Boulevard and Frazine in Empire; Santa Fe Avenue and Main Street in Denair; Howard Road and Ingram Creek Road in Westley; Keyes Road and Faith Home Road in Keyes; West Fifth Street and Highway 33 in Crows Landing; Hickman Road and Lake Road in Hickman; and Yosemite Boulevard and Conejo Avenue in Modesto.
The city of Riverbank has an IntelliSite system watching vehicle traffic. A second phase of the network will include Hughson, Waterford and Patterson pending approval by those city councils.
The subscription agreement with IntelliSite has a maximum cost of $230,600 over a three-year period. The anticipated start date for the contract is Feb. 1.
This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 8:00 AM.
