KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic law violators take note: the police have upgraded their traffic enforcement and crime prevention and detection abilities with the implementation of the new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system.
Federal Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department deputy director Assistant Commissioner Ruslan Khalid said police have purchased and received 20 units of the ANPR from the United States.
“We received the devices early this month and have begun using them during various operations carried out in the country, especially in traffic operations,” he said.
Ruslan, citing an example, said the devices were used during a recent traffic operation in Johor, during which 2,000 traffic offenders and those with outstanding summonses were detected.
“The mobile device will constantly scan the licence plates of vehicles. Within seconds, the system will be able to detect vehicles which have been issued summonses or arrest warrants.
“The system, which uses a high-definition camera that captures and reads the vehicle’s registration number, is also used to detect blacklisted vehicles and criminals on the road,” he said.
He said police patrol units were recently able to identify 87 criminal cases, mostly involving stolen cars, using the devices.
Ruslan said this during a press conference after attending Op Terancang at Sungai Besi Toll Plaza here early today.
Op Terancang was also carried out at main expressways in four other locations nationwide - Bukit Gambir in Johor, Gurun in Kedah, Gunung Semanggol in Perak and R&R Temerloh in Pahang.
During the operation, 3,361 summonses were issued within two hours to motorists breaking road rules.
“A total of 46 people were arrested for testing positive for drugs, while 29 foreigners were picked up as they failed to display valid documents,” he said.
On the summons issue, Ruslan said that more than 3 million summons notices have been issued this year to motorists for violating traffic laws.
“Of the number, 833,000 received warning letters for failing to respond. In spite of this, most still refused to come forward and pay the summons.
“If they do not receive a warrant for arrest, they tend to ignore the letters and refuse to settle their outstanding summonses,” he added.