The San Rafael Police Department plans to purchase a mobile license plate reader system for $38,000.
City Council members approved the action Jan. 20 as part of their consent agenda. The police department submitted a grant proposal to the Marin County Office of Emergency Services to purchase the system in June 2014. Through the county the department will receive a $25,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help cover the costs of buying the system. The remaining $13,000 will come from the police department's budget.
The department already has two police vehicles equipped with such systems, but it does not have a portable trailer system with the same capabilities. Police officials said the system will help them detect wanted vehicles, capture vehicle information in and around the area of known and recurring crimes, deter crimes and increase their ability to solve crimes.