Tougher security measures on BC Ferries
Ferry Online Travel News 24/07/2008
B.C. Ferries will be tightening safety rules, but scanning license plates won't be part of the plan.
Although security measures are being ramped on the B.C. Ferries, they’re nowhere near the level of those on U.S. ferry systems.
Just to the south, the Washington State Patrol has just launched a pilot program that involves vehicle license plates being scanned by equipment as the Automatic Licence Plate Recognition System.
The license plate readers match the information from the plates with outstanding stolen vehicle alerts, amber alerts, notifications of persons wanted for serious crimes and with those on the Department of Homeland Security's "terror watch list."
Washington State Patrol Lieutenant Steve McCulley noted that the system is currently in use at the Coleman Dock in Seattle and at the Bainbridge Island terminal, to determine its effectiveness.
"It's just one more layer of security to try to make it as safe as possible," said McCulley.
McCulley added that if the program is expanded to cover all of the Washington State ferry service, 11 million cars using the system each year will have their license plates scanned as they pass through the terminal buildings.
The B.C. Ferries security improvements will be significant, but will not involve this type of scanning that is taking place in Washington State, according to company spokesman, Deborah Marshall.
Marshall added that they feel that license plate scanners are "more of a police tool."
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