CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)\u2014 Cape Coral\u2019s Police chief addressed the use of controversial license plate readers after two of the department\u2019s cameras might have been intentionally destroyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cameras, primarily manufactured by industry giant Flock Safety, go beyond traditional license plate tracking. Using artificial intelligence, they create a detailed \u20183D fingerprint\u2019 of passing vehicles. Law enforcement officials say the cameras are an important tool to fight crime. But opponents argue they are an invasion of privacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A nationwide movement<\/a> against license plate readers have resulted in protests, vandalism, and the cancellation of Flock contacts. Now, Cape Coral Police said they\u2019re looking into the destruction of two license plate readers<\/a> at the intersection of Diplomat Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard.\u00a0Police Chief Anthony Sizemore joined Daybreak with Jason Jones on 92.5 FOX News Monday morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n “You got an issue that is eliciting passion, which is good,\u201d Sizemore said. “That’s what our country is about. You can do that without committing vandalism or a crime.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Sizemore said the cameras have helped police solve homicides and find suicidal subjects. An Amber Alert in Marion County last week ended with the safe recovery of a kidnapped teenager.<\/a> Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said his deputies used such license plate readers to find the suspect.\u00a0<\/p>\n