PRESENTER: Presenter
Michael Penshorn, Police Captain
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution authorizing the City of New Braunfels to enter into an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation on behalf of the New Braunfels Police Department for the placement of automatic license plate readers on state highway right of ways.
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HHIDTA) is a multi-jurisdictional public safety program that was established to reduce drug trafficking and production in the United States. The HHIDTA LPR Database was formed in support of this mission.
The HHIDTA LPR Database Information Sharing System is a collective group of law and justice agencies sharing data into one or more data aggregation systems. The goal of the LPR Database is to develop, establish, and maintain an integrated system of information technology that maximizes the sharing of data and communication between Member Agencies in support of law enforcement and public safety, while maintaining the confidentiality of privileged or otherwise protected information shared through the system, and protecting privacy and civil liberties in accordance with applicable law.
In support of this endeavor, the New Braunfels City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding on April 25, 2022, that allowed the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) to become a member agency within the HHIDTA LPR Database.
After extensive research, NBPD has determined prospective sites for mounting automatic license plate readers on state highway right of ways within, and nearby, the city limits on IH-35. The LPRs will be able to capture images of vehicles entering and leaving New Braunfels, allowing law enforcement to be alerted when a target vehicle is travelling through our city. This equipment will assist NBPD and their local, regional, state, and Federal law enforcement partners in rescuing kidnapped children, locating victims of human trafficking, and finding wanted persons, drug couriers, and stolen vehicles.
If approved by City Council, the resolution will permit the City Manager to act as the authorized official on behalf of the City in all matters related to a Mutual Use Agreement with TxDOT that includes project details and outlines the duties and responsibilities of the entities.
ISSUE:
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact at this time. Project costs will be brought for City Council consideration at a future date if needed.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution authorizing the City of New Braunfels to enter into an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation on behalf of the New Braunfels Police Department for the placement of automatic license plate readers on state highway right of ways.