Devices to Scan Tags

New technology will enable deputies to run car tags across three lanes of traffic to check if they are stolen or wanted.

The voted on Tuesday to use $20,625 from the sheriff’s office’s forfeiture account to purchase two mobile tag reader systems.

Chief Deputy Stan Copeland said the mobile tag reader systems don’t run tags for registration information but can tell through the National Crime Information Center and Georgia Crime Information Center databases if the tags are stolen or wanted.

“Any tag that is entered, it will read it, recognize it and say, ‘That’s a stolen vehicle,’” Copeland said. “It’s up to the deputy to verify.”

For example, a vehicle with a Tennessee tag could drive by with a letter/number combination that matches a Georgia tag that had been reported stolen.

“It’s up to the deputy to figure out if it matches or not,” Copeland said.

Commissioner Kelly Robinson asked during the board's work session last week if the units would get into the rights of people.

"This bring backs information," Robinson said. "How does it work? How do you bring it back and take some action?"

Copeland said that in Georgia, driving is a right and not a privilege.

"You have no right to drive," he said. "We grant you a privilege. When you agree to that, you're saying you abide by the rules."

However, if a tag isn't flagged in the national or state systems, the tag reader won't register it or give the deputy any information.

"So it protects the rights," Commissioner Henry Mitchell said in clarification.

The system also cannot match tags to cars to determine if a tag is on the wrong car, Copeland said. The units will be used by special enforcement unit officers in marked patrol cars.

"It's not like everyday guys are operating this," Robinson said.

The department currently has one mobile tag reader system that was purchased with grant money two years ago. However, that unit can only read tags along one lane of traffic.

In other business, the board:

• authorized the chairman to execute an agreement with Sutton Consulting, LLC regarding changes to distribution of the Local Option Sales Tax
• voted to hire a new assistant public defender to replace one who recently left the office
• approved a contract with FMC to provide in-house dialysis treatments for inmates at the Douglas County jail to be administered by Administrative Solutions
• approved agreements with Nichols, Cauley & Associates for the 2011 audit, Landfill Financial Assurance Report and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Performance Audit, subject to legal review
• accepted $15,000 from the City of Douglasville for repairs and improvements to the Animal Control facility
• accepted $5,000 from ACCG for the Risk and Safety Department to promote health and wellness among county employees
• accepted $16,922 from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office’s forfeiture account for a purchase of supplies from DGG Taser
• accepted $54,351 from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office’s commissary account to purchase medical tracking software for prisoner care, subject to legal review
• declared items as surplus
• voted to solicit bids for an automated fingerprint and mugshot system for the new jail
• voted to solicit bids for thermoplastic striping of various county roads
• and voted to solicit bids for sidewalk construction in multiple subdivisions. Officials say this will complete sidewalks in subdivisions where developers abandoned their projects because of the downturn in the economy.