License Plate Readers Helped Track Down the Kansas City Highway Shooter

Controversial license plate reader technology was crucial to capturing the Kansas City Highway Shooter.

Photo Removed
Complex Original

Blank pixel used during image takedowns

Photo Removed

During the past month a mysterious shooter terrorized the highways of Kansas City. Police linked at least 12 incidents to a single gun, all of them involving gunshots on the freeways south of KC. Luckily no one was killed, but three were wounded, and certainly even more were frightened. Police were finally able to arrest the subject, Mohammed Whitaker, last Thursday.

If it weren't for the controversial license plate readers, Whitaker may never have been caught. A woman tipped off police after she noticed a suspicious driver stop in front of her, stare at her, and then drive alongside her car before trying to pull behind. Instead the woman slammed on her breaks to get behind the man and write down his license plate. 

Investigators plugged in that number to a database for license plate readers. The next day a scanner found the plate on a Dodge Neon. With that information, police were able to tie the car to Whitaker and find his current address. A stakeout lasted several days before police finally obtained a warrant and arrested Whitaker. 

Civil-liberty advocates don't like license plate readers because they log the plates of everyone who drives by a reader, regardless of if they're a suspect. Last year Boston Police announced they'd stop using the devices amid public pressure. Controversy aside, the technology proved its usefulness in Kansas City. The question is whether it's worth the intrusion. 

RELATED: 25 Insanely Clever License Plates You Wish You'd Thought Of
RELATED: 18 Ridiculous Vanity Plates Spotted on Instagram

[via LA Times]

Latest in Sports