In the last few weeks, the Sûreté du Québec has proceeded with the removal of license plate readers from its patrol cars, a device that was installed near the flashing lights.

Although this equipment was appreciated by police officers because of its operational usefulness, it was decided, following an analysis and by mutual agreement with the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), to stop funding this tool.

In fact, the license plate recognition system allowed police officers to identify motorists whose licenses were sanctioned or whose plates were unpaid. It was bringing millions of dollars into the government's coffers each year, an amount the SQ refused to confirm despite a request to do so. 

According to the police force that serves the territories of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Beauharnois-Salaberry, there were 64 of these devices still in operation on the roads of the province in 2021. Four years earlier, in 2017, this number was 93. It is from that year that the popularity of this device has experienced a decline by reaching 83 devices in operation in 2018 and 64 in 2019 and 2020.

By email, the SQ specifies that "this detection tool is particularly used to detect and intercept drivers with unpaid or sanctioned registrations or licenses, thus allowing the removal of vehicles and drivers in violation of the Highway Safety Code or the Criminal Code. However, it is difficult to evaluate its direct contribution to the improvement of road safety."

The Sûreté du Québec did not want to specify if this technology will be replaced by another one in the coming weeks or months. 

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