Sweepercams Coming this Month: You Better Move Your Car!
Wow. First of I have heard of this new device: the sweepercam. Got an email from DC Department of Public Works regarding the resumption of street sweeping on March 23 (for which I am extremely grateful… our streets are gross in the winter). Starting March 7, DPW will test cameras mounted on its city streetsweepers, which will take photos of cars that are illegally parked on streetsweeping day. The new cameras will be used to help DPW and MPD ticket and tow cars that have not been moved on the appropriate day.
Note to the City Council and Mayor: Now, if you would only worry as much about violent crime on the streets as you do trash…
Here’s the memo:
Dear Residents:
Just wanted to make you aware that the Department of Public Works (DPW) will test the “Sweepercam,” license plate recognition equipment mounted on seven street sweepers from Monday, March 9, through Friday, March 27. DPW will use the three weeks to make sure cameras and sweeper operators are fully in-sync to ensure a reliable system by March 30. The dry run will occur on residential sweeper routes citywide. During this dry run, no parking tickets will be issued.
Sweepercams will be deployed Monday, March 23, when mechanical sweeping on residential streets posted with “No Parking/Street Cleaning” signs begins. Parking tickets, which carry a $30 fine, will be issued, beginning March 30, to vehicles parked during street sweeping hours. Tickets may be issued either by the “Sweepercam” technology or Parking Control Officers.
The Sweepercams will capture the image of vehicles parked in the sweeping lane during restricted hours to improve parking enforcement. Generally, parking is prohibited for two hours while sweeping is underway. A total of 12 sweeper cams will be in use on residential sweeper routes by May 2009.
For more information about DPW’s street sweeping program and for frequently asked questions about Sweepercam, visit www.dpw.dc.gov and review Brochures and Fact Sheets under the Information section.
Nancee Lyons, Public Affairs Specialist, DC Department of Public Works, (202) 671-2637
