O yeah, we're just checkin' to make sure your car isn't stolen...Uh-huh.....

Freeport installs tracking-capable cameras to watch traffic entering city

By Craig Hlavaty, Houston Chronicle | July 11, 2013
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With help from a $600,000 federal grant approved in 2009, Freeport has installed 12 surveillance cameras at major entrances to the city with an eye on adding even more in the near future.

Dedicated cameras that can follow cars have been set up to scan license plates to be checked against a national database of stolen vehicles.

"If the plate is listed as a wanted vehicle or in connection to a crime or a wanted person the cameras will follow the car and notify the dispatcher," said city manager Jeff Pynes in an email.

Freeport officials told Click2Houston that every car that comes and goes will be recorded at the Freeport police station, and the city will keep these photos on record for 90 days.

Pynes adds that the notification of "hits" on license plates is automatic, but the movement of the cameras are manual based on the need.

"We have another $6 million pending that will add to the phase one installed infrastructure to add up to 80 more cameras all around the industrial areas, port areas and major thoroughfares of the city," said Pynes.

Pynes says Freeport made the decision to fortify the community and its businesses.

Freeport, southeast of Lake Jackson, has one of the nation's busiest international ports, and over two dozen chemical companies have facilities there.

"Freeport is a medium to small city with larger city problems," he said, mentioning the port and industrial complexes essential to the local economy.

Pynes also said terrorism is an issue for the city government.

"We are trying to make our city and business community not a soft target for terrorist or criminal opportunities," he said.

The main entrances where the cameras have been placed, Highway 288, FM 1495, Highway 36, are all heavy traffic areas.

Pynes says that the complaints have been minimal.

"We have not really received any complaints," Pynes said. "Even the people I thought may complain have been supportive, if the technology is not used for traffic enforcement."