Discussion to continue on Urbana license plate scanners

URBANA, Ill. (WCCU) — The push to invest in license plate scanners in Urbana is something that has the community split.

While Champaign is expected to vote on the cameras in the coming weeks, Urbana council members have said that more needs to be learned on their effectiveness.

"I think the more data and information we can find and hard evidence that supports this is the right move, then I'm open to that," Ward 5 Councilmember Chaundra Bishop said.

Bishop said she is undecided on if the city should move forward with the cameras.

The council voted on Monday to further the discussion once the Urbana Police Department has brought more information to the table.

"I like that in the policy they said they would be auditing its usage, who is using it and how they are using it and making sure nothing is getting abused," Chaundra Bishop said.

While some community members, including the NAACP, have come out in support of the purchase, many who shared their voices at the meeting have said it will not work.

"The purpose for the city is to show they are doing something without investigating how effective something like that is," said Urbana resident Alan Max Axelrod.

Axelrod was in attendance at Monday's meeting and believes there are much better ways to spend the money than license plate scanners.

"Maybe one or two instances where this could be useful for and for $50,000 you could have multiple people walking the streets, tending to needy people and checking on their safety," Axelrod said.

Bishop said the project still has a long way to go until it is passed but is urging the discussion to go towards what will stop violence before it happens.

"This is just one idea, I don't think it is a deterrent for gun violence, I think it is an investigative tool for after the fact, I think what we need to focus on are root causes to gun violence," Bishop said.

The city and the NAACP of Champaign County will be hosting two town halls to hear from the community on the scanners.

They will take place at Vineyard Church on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 5:30 and Friday, Oct. 29 at 1.