Essex County OPP cruisers now outfitted with new licence plate recognition system
Ottawa police say the Automatic Licence Plate Recognition system identified "hundreds" of vehicles with expired license plates last weekend. (Ian Urbach/CTV News Ottawa)
The Essex County OPP detachment now has Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) and in-car camera (ICC) systems installed in all of its patrol vehicles.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is introducing the new systems to all its frontline vehicles at detachments across the province.
“This is an example of the OPP's commitment to increasing transparency and accountability in the policing of our communities, and to leverage technologies that will enhance community and officer safety,” a news release from Essex County OPP states. “These technologies will be used to gather enhanced evidence to be used in the prosecution of offences and will also highlight the professionalism our members display every day as they work to ensure safe communities.”
Police say the in addition to the benefits of having an objective video recoding of police interactions with the public, the integrated ALPR functionality will “dramatically” enhance an officer’s ability to detect licence plates that are linked with criminal or traffic offences.
The Essex County detachment continues to see drivers operating vehicles that don’t have valid, registered plates, police say. While vehicle owners do not need to pay for validation stickers, licence plates are still required to be renewed annually or bi-annually.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I heard a cracking noise': 16 children, 1 adult injured in platform collapse at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
Engaged couple shot dead days before moving out of house near Hamilton
An engaged couple was shot dead while fleeing their landlord near Hamilton just days before they were scheduled to move out of their apartment.
1 in 4 Canadian women forced to choose between buying meals and period products, survey finds
A new survey has found that one in four menstruating women in Canada have had to choose between paying for period products or other essentials such as food or rent.
Special rapporteur Johnston rejects call to 'step aside' after majority of MPs vote for him to resign
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to assure Canadians that his government is adequately addressing the threat of foreign interference took a hit on Wednesday, when the majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside,' a call Johnston quickly rejected.
Federal Court of Appeal: Canada not constitutionally obligated to bring home suspected ISIS fighters
The Government of Canada has won its appeal and will not be legally forced to repatriate four Canadian men from prisons in Northeast Syria.
Canadian consumer debt hits all-time high, reaching $2.32 trillion in Q1 2023: TransUnion
Amid interest rate hikes and high inflation, more Canadians are turning to credit for relief, with consumer debt hitting a new record in the first quarter of 2023.
Canada closing in on deal to get Stellantis battery plant back on track: Champagne
A deal to save a $5-billion electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor is inching closer, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Wednesday.
Fresh Russian bombardment of Ukraine's capital kills at least 3 people, wounds others
Russian forces began June with a fresh aerial bombardment of Kyiv on Thursday, killing at least three people and wounding others, authorities said.
Health Canada recalls Arora Cookwares clay cooking pot with lid over burn hazards
Arora cookwares clay cooking pots were recalled by the federal health agency over burn and injury risks.
Kitchener
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Emergency crews respond to fire in Kitchener
Around six fire trucks, including an aerial truck, were on scene at a fire on Green Valley Drive in Kitchener on Wednesday afternoon after a fire that impacted multiple townhomes.
-
Local fairs and festivals struggling due to lack of volunteers
Several local fairs and festivals are calling off their upcoming events due to a lack of volunteers. Meanwhile one festival is thriving.
-
'Thank God my kids were not outside': Driver charged after car crashes through 3 Kitchener, Ont. backyards
A 72-year-old from Kitchener has been charged with careless driving after a vehicle careened off Highland Road West and smashed through the backyards of three homes on Ralgreen Crescent on Tuesday afternoon.
London
-
Lewis and Cuddy call for moratorium on 'renovictions' as pressure mounts on tenants of Webster Street apartments
The plight of tenants at the Webster Street apartments in northeast London, Ont. has reached the attention of Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
-
Minivan careens through entrance of florist shop in west London, Ont.
No injuries were reported after a minivan careened through the front entrance of a florist shop in the west end of the city early Wednesday afternoon.
-
One person transported to hospital after farm incident near Exeter, Ont.
One person was hurt following an incident on a farm north of Exeter on Wednesday afternoon.
Barrie
-
Hundreds protest Barrie's homelessness plan outside city hall
Hundreds gathered outside Barrie city hall Wednesday night, protesting the city's plans to address its homelessness crisis.
-
Barrie council moving ahead with two new developments
Barrie city councillors approved several staff reports with just a few more weeks of meetings until taking a summer recess.
-
One person airlifted after crash on Hwy 89 involving scooter and truck
One person has been airlifted following a collision involving a scooter and truck near Shelburne.
Northern Ontario
-
3 girls now charged in assault, kidnapping investigation in Huntsville
Huntsville OPP has charged a third girl in connection to an alleged assault captured on video at a local high school and shared on social media earlier this month.
-
Northern Ont. town on the brink of evacuation as out-of-control wildfire grows
Forest fires in northern Ontario are on the rise, with the largest in the region shutting down a critical highway for the people of Hornepayne for a bit and bringing the community to the brink of evacuation.
-
'Mortifying': Toronto woman says restaurant shamed her for ordering too much food
A Toronto woman says she was shamed for the size of her order at a sushi restaurant north of the city in a scathing review posted to social media that’s been viewed more than 1.4 million times.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa man facing charges in double homicide of Mississauga teens in Pembroke, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police have arrested a 21-year-old man from Ottawa in connection with the shooting deaths of two teens from Mississauga in Pembroke, Ont. A third teenager, also from Mississauga, was injured.
-
Crown seeks significant sentence for OPP officer convicted of sexual assault
At a sentencing hearing in Brockville Wednesday, the Crown argued an 'exemplary sentence' was warranted for the OPP officer convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman and videotaping it.
-
Special rapporteur Johnston rejects call to 'step aside' after majority of MPs vote for him to resign
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to assure Canadians that his government is adequately addressing the threat of foreign interference took a hit on Wednesday, when the majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside,' a call Johnston quickly rejected.
Toronto
-
Engaged couple shot dead days before moving out of house near Hamilton
An engaged couple was shot dead while fleeing their landlord near Hamilton just days before they were scheduled to move out of their apartment.
-
Girl, 14, charged in connection with firework being set off inside TTC bus
A 14-year-old girl has been charged in connection with a firework being set off inside a TTC bus in Scarborough on Tuesday that was captured on video and went viral online.
-
Candidates take aim at front-runner Chow on taxes in wide-ranging debate
Olivia Chow once again took most of the firepower as the six leading candidates in Toronto’s race to become mayor squared off in a wide-ranging debate hosted by United Way Greater Toronto, The Toronto Star and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Montreal
-
'It doesn't feel human': Six Quebecers file legal challenge against Bill 96
One year less a day after Quebec's Bill 96 came into force, a new legal challenge was filed Wednesday at the Montreal courthouse on behalf of six people.
-
‘Imminent threat’: Quebec police warn of armed suspect in Stoke
Quebec provincial police (SQ) is warning the public about an armed suspect posing an “imminent threat” in Stoke in the Estrie region.
-
Quebec family law reform: Bill 12 passes unanimously
On Wednesday, elected members of the National Assembly unanimously adopted Bill 12, part of the family law reform aimed at protecting children born of rape. After the vote, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette declared the new law would "better protect Quebec families" by responding more adequately to their needs.
Atlantic
-
N.S. premier asks for urgent help from federal government as wildfires continue to burn out of control
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is asking for urgent help as wildfires continue to burn out of control in his province.
-
Roofers hailed as heroes for alerting neighbours to Tantallon-area fire
A Halifax roofing crew is being hailed as heroes for their actions Sunday, after springing into action and alerting neighbours when they spotted smoke and then a fast-moving wildfire in Upper Tantallon, N.S.
-
Shelburne County wildfire remains out of control, further evacuation recommended
A wildfire in Nova Scotia’s Shelburne County is still out of control and prompting recommended evacuations.
Winnipeg
-
'I heard a cracking noise': 16 children, 1 adult injured in platform collapse at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
-
'Not about promoting one party over another': Winnipeg by-election to have most candidates in Canadian history
The upcoming Winnipeg South Centre by-election will have the largest number of candidates in Canadian election history, as part of an effort to point out the flaws in our electoral system.
-
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation man killed in hit-and-run: RCMP
RCMP in Virden are investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident Tuesday morning.
Calgary
-
'An obscene amount': Anger grows over residential parking fees
Calgarians facing a massive increase in cost just to park in their own neighbourhoods are voicing their concerns.
-
Premier Danielle Smith tasked with choosing new cabinet after losing several senior MLAs
Danielle Smith is now facing her first big test as Alberta's returning premier — picking a new cabinet after losing several senior MLAs.
-
Calgary council considers bylaw changes to discourage catalytic converter theft
The City of Calgary is considering changes to its business licence bylaw in the effort to reduce catalytic converter theft.
Edmonton
-
Smith urged to work with elected Edmontonians after promising 'council' of defeated UCP candidates
Alberta's re-elected premier says she plans to form a "council" of UCP candidates who lost in Monday's election to advise her on Edmonton issues, something her opponent made fun of Wednesday.
-
'It was panic, chaos': Hundreds of northern Alberta residents flee growing wildfire
The wildfire, believed to have been caused by lightning, grew from 300 hectares on Sunday to 8,600 by Wednesday afternoon.
-
Landspout spotted near Stettler, Alberta
A landspout touched down near Stettler on Wednesday afternoon.
Vancouver
-
Emergency Operations Centre activated at Surrey Memorial Hospital
In response to a barrage of questions about Surrey’s beleaguered hospital, B.C.’s minister of health told reporters that an Emergency Operations Centre was activated at the site on Wednesday afternoon.
-
Vancouver cupcake thief apologizes, offers to pay for damages from bizarre bakery break-in
The man who broke into a Dunbar bakery by kicking in a glass door Friday morning has apologized to the owner and offered to pay for damages.
-