The Irvine City Council is taking inventory of the city’s security cameras as the first part of its preliminary planning for more security cameras in public spaces.
The council was unanimous in its decision earlier this month, directing city staff to submit a report of the number of cameras currently in operation as well as public spaces in Irvine that may need security cameras.
“This is really about our shared goal,” said Councilmember Tammy Kim. “What we all want is to create a secure environment where our residents can live their lives, work and raise their families without the constant worry of safety.”
Security cameras, Kim said, can provide surveillance, deterrence and evidence gathering.
Irvine utilizes several types of cameras: traffic cameras, facility cameras, investigations cameras and roving cameras, according to city staff.
The primary purpose of each of these cameras is distinct. Traffic cameras — not to be confused with red-light cameras that photograph and fine drivers running red lights — assist in traffic operations, including managing traffic flow and signaling timing. They are deployed as real-time management tools and do not record video footage, although public safety staff within the Orange County Communications Center can manually capture video of significant incidents, like a car chase, for evidentiary purposes. Facility cameras, managed by the Department of Public Safety, exist to monitor facility grounds and capture video only.
License plate recognition systems, an example of an investigation camera, automatically read license plates and compare them against a database of known suspect vehicles. These units are installed at the Civic Center to “bolster facility security,” according to city staff, and can quickly identify wanted vehicles entering or leaving the parking lot.
And roving cameras are body-worn by public safety personnel that capture both audio and video. The city’s public safety department has 312…
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