The Town of Westlake is close to completing a project to help keep our residents safer than ever. On February 5th, Council approved $116,000 to install cameras at all Town entrances and Westlake Academy. The license plate reading camera system will reduce and deter criminal activity in Westlake. The cameras register the make, model, and color of the vehicle and the license plate number and compare that information to secure federal and state data banks which hold information on stolen vehicles, active arrest warrants, and Amber and Silver Alerts.
If the information matches the information in the database, the Keller Police Department is alerted within 30 seconds of the vehicle passing by the camera. Keller PD can then locate the vehicle and investigate the situation. Similar cameras are installed in Trophy Club and have already helped reduce crime there. 30 cameras will soon be installed around Westlake.
It’s important to note that the cameras will only capture video of vehicles entering Town limits, not leaving. The images will be held for 30 days then deleted. Police will only monitor vehicles attached to felonies and not misdemeanors. Also, this is not a facial recognition tool; it only takes video of the back of the vehicle where the license plate can be seen. The driver/passenger’s faces are never seen. It’s also not used for traffic enforcement either, so you won’t get any tickets in the mail because of the cameras. And most importantly, your personal information is safe.
Keller Police will provide the Town with monthly reports showing how many vehicles were tied to felonies/outstanding warrants and how many arrests were made. A map of where the cameras will be installed around Town is below. For more information about the cameras, please click on this link.