It’s all about the toys
Jim Smith became one of the onlookers at his own press conference to announce the purchase of four new digital license-plate readers that will be used by county police.
The car-mounted cameras link to a laptop inside the patrol car and can capture and read license plates on vehicles moving at up to 100 mph or when the police car is moving at 60 mph. The system then checks the tags in a national crime database and alerts the officer if, for example, the car or tags have been reported stolen or expired.
Smith was beaming as he made the announcement but soon reporters and television cameras were crowding around the police car used in the Dec. 18 demonstration in Loch Raven Village. Smith couldn’t help but join and acknowledge that the gear was going to get all the attention on the noon, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.
But he tried.
“Be sure to use my explanation on television tonight,” Smith playfully pleaded with cameraman.
Being county executive has its perks, but sometimes the shiny toys get all the attention.
“I don’t think I’m going to score in that regard,” he quickly admitted. “Whenever we have toys, that takes precedence.”