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New OPP licence plate scanner can nab offenders Ontario Provincial Police can now more easily identify offenders on the province's roads due to its acquisition of a sophisticated licence plate recognition technology. Four OPP cruisers, in which one will patrol the Greater Toronto Area including Oakville, will be equipped with the new Automatic Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) system. The ALPR, which is being used as a pilot project, has the ability to scan thousands of licence plates per day. It is expected to enable OPP officers to more quickly and easily identify stolen and non-compliant vehicles that are in violation of Criminal Code and Highway Traffic Act (HTA) laws. "Helping police quickly identify those vehicles that should not be on our roads will make our roads safer," Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said in a news release. ALPR is state-of-the-art technology that involves the use of stationary cameras mounted at the front and rear of a police vehicle. The system has the ability to scan licence plates that enter the camera's field of view whether the vehicle is moving, parked or even travelling fast. Once the camera captures the plate's image, it is checked against a police and Ministry of Transportation (MTO) database "hotlist" of licence plates that are in poor standing for things validation stickers. like being listed as stolen or The ALPR hotlist will for plates that are suspend- enable the OPP to target an ed, reported as stolen or estimated 5-7 million Ontario missing, or with expired plates suspected of being in poor standing, and they will have Canada-wide access to stolen vehicle information. In optimum conditions, ALPR is capable of scanning approximately 7,000 plates per hour. 7 · Friday, January 1, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com We Service: CFM, DRU, GSW, Hunter, Gas Fireplace Repair * FREE DAILY SERVICE Morning and afternoon departures to Fallsview Casino *After $10 Casino Rebate Government Photo ID required Solving Problems Since `82! Insta-Flame, Valor, Napoleon, Regency, Majestic, Heat-N-Glo, Heatilator, Selkrik, GTI, Dovre, Pacific Energy, Security, HearthStone, Montigo, Lennox, T Temco, Kingsman, Polaris, Heritage, Drolet, Continental, Vermount Casting, Osbourne & many other brands. Experience is the Difference! 905-845-0701 ifr @gasfix.ca Morning & Afternoon From Hopedale Mall WEDNESDAY & NOW SATURDAY EVERY From Carpool Lot Guelph Line, North Service Rd EVERY SUN, TUES, THURS, FRI & SAT BUY LOCALLY SERVICE LOCALLY SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY Phone: (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com Minimum 5- hour stay required. Valid government-issued photo identification and Players Advantage Club Card required to redeem offers. Offers subject to change without notice. Offers cannot be combined/substituted. Must be 19 years of age or older to board coaches for casino. Void where prohibited. 1 -800-8381789 T.I.C.O. #50007535 OMCA Member FOR RESERV ATIONS CALL www.casinocoach.ca · www.frontlinetours.ca 168 CLARENCE ST., PORT COLBORNE, L3K 3G5 SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN SATURDAYS O P E N N E W Y E A R' S D A Y An Unforgettable Dining Experience awaits you... Cynthia's Chinese Restaurant Enjoy fine Chinese cuisine in an atmosphere with the perfect mix of elegance and exuberance. 2 course DAILY lunch specials starting from only $ 95 8 2460 Neyagawa Blvd., #1, Oakville 905-338-1818 www.cynthiaschinese.com Mention this ad & receive a FREE order of MANGO SALAD on dine in or takeout.