CHULA VISTA, Calif. — The Chula Vista City Council has approved over 100 automated license plate readers to be installed in the city.
The council voted unanimously in favor of the use of the technology. The Chula Vista Police Department says the surveillance tool will help the department combat the rampant vehicle theft in the city.
“We want to make sure that our police have the tools that they can use to be able to do their jobs as well as they can," said Chula Vista Mayor John McCann.
“This is to make sure our community is protected," said Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy.
Chula Vista Police say they’ve seen an uptick of vehicle theft over the last three years.
Vehicle thefts increased by 28.5% in 2022. Vehicle accessory theft, which includes catalytic converters, is up by 42%. More than 800 vehicles have been stolen this year so far.
Last month, the department received a $3,037,986 grant to combat these crimes.
The grant will fund a detective position to investigate the crimes, new vehicles, and the installation of 150 license plate cameras around the city.
“It's all built on ingress, egress of our city so when you look at the whole 52 square miles, we’re trying to cover on the main thoroughfares based on population density," said Kennedy.
The council heard from dozens of speakers in favor of the technology, many who have been victims of crime.
“The cameras will protect the residents of Chula Vista," said one couple whose home was burglarized by an organized crime group.
“We have to protect the victims and far too often what we’re doing is protecting the criminals,” said former Chula Vista mayor Mary Salas.
“A lot of the cars that are stolen in this community end up across the border within 5 to 10 minutes," said a former police officer.
Among the speakers, was Maya Millette's sister, Maricris Drouaillet. Millette vanished from her Chula vista home in 2021, Drouaillet insists that the cameras could’ve helped police in their investigation into her sister’s disappearance.
“It’s my sincerest belief that if CVPD and surrounding cities had the license plate readers activated at the time of her disappearance the investigators would have greater chance of locating her," said Drouaillet.
Those against the technology argue the license plate readers pose a threat to the community’s privacy
"We don’t know where technology is going in the future. And so just because something doesn’t exist today doesn’t mean it won’t in the future," said one resident.
"I don’t feel safer because of technology," added another resident.
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