OPP's licence plate scanner nabs suspended drivers, insurance violations

Provincial police say a cruiser equipped with cameras and a computer to scan licence plates to detect driving violations has helped officers lay 31 charges in the first two weeks of this month.

The cruiser, which is referred to as an Automated Licence Plate Recognition Vehicle, has been undergoing testing by Southern Georgian Bay OPP since July 1.

Police say officers operating the cruiser have laid eight charges for expired licence plate stickers, six for suspended driving, nine for unlicenced driving, six insurance related counts and two other charges.

The cruiser has three cameras that can scan motor vehicle licence plates.

The software can detect violations such as suspended driving, expired validation stickers, expired driver's licence and other offences.

Southern Georgian Bay OPP say they plan to continue using the special cruiser on area roads.