McDuffie County Getting Money for License Plate Reader Cameras

McDuffie County will share in over $83 million in grant money for counties across Georgia for programs aimed at reducing violent crime.

The over $300,000 that McDuffie County received will be used to create the McDuffie's EYES (Enhancing Your Everyday Safety) Initiative.  A series of license plate reader cameras will be strategically placed at more than two dozen locations to track the movement of vehicles in and out of the county.

The McDuffie County Sheriff's office will have 25 Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras gathering real-time information daily.  "The ability to potentially have real-time data about the movement or the general identification of possible suspect vehicles will only enhance our ability to investigate crimes," said Sheriff Logan Marshall.

Officials are in the process of identifying locations around the county where they will be able to provide the most coverage, especially entry and exit points.

Cameras are expected to be in place over the next few months.  Officials say the installation and annual access fees will be paid for with the grant money awarded through the end of 2026.

In making grant money available to 118 counties in the state, Governor Brian Kemp said, "Public safety has always been a top priority of my administration and will continue to be.  With the increase in violent crime seen in communities across the country, including here in our state, we're sending reinforcements to keep hardworking Georgians and their neighborhoods safe."