San Jose may enlist garbage trucks as eyes on the ground for a short-staffed police force.

According to the San Jose Insider, "Equipping trash haulers with license plate readers would turn them into roving scouts for the San Jose Police Department. Already, the trucks travel every city street every single week, covering more ground than a cop car."

Mayor Sam Liccardo said: “As we continue to struggle to recruit and retain police officers, it is imperative that we utilize any technologies at our disposal to thwart crime.”

The San Jose Insider said that the city will spend $68,400 or two new plate scanners. “Mounting these readers on … garbage trucks would be a unique and effective strategy,” per the memo signed by Liccardo, Khamis and Peralez.

City staff will next consult the city attorney to review the legality of their proposal, the article said. 

http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2015/08/18/san-jose-may-deploy-crime-spying-garbage-trucks/