Devices to help police nab suspended drivers

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana State Police will be using new technology to catch suspended drivers and drivers without licenses.

Devices attached to the trunk deck of a state police cruiser will scan license plates of other cars. By the end of 2011, state police say the devices will be connected with a database at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles that will check license plates against registered owners to determine if the driver may not have a valid license. Eventually, the system will also be able to identify vehicles with expired plates.

Four state police cruisers are equipped with the license plate readers. The cars are assigned to troopers at the Lowell, Bremen, Putnamville and Sellersburg state police posts.

The readers cost about $22,000 and were bought with state and federal grant money.