The 84th Precinct hosts the squad car of the future [WSJ]

The cop car of the future is here. It can read license plates and scan for radiation on the go. The pilot car is based out of Brooklyn’s 84th Precinct, in Brooklyn Heights. No stingray missiles behind the headlights yet, but maybe when the cruiser goes to scale. Read about how this automobile fits into the NYPD’s plan to expand its reach using technology in the WSJ.

Some takeaways:

• The smart car is constantly reading numbers around it. If, for example, it sees a car with a license plate that has been flagged as stolen, that gets flagged for the officers.
• Police don’t look at the data the car collects unless it somehow flags information in an investigation.
• The windshield has a radiation center.
• Onboard printer for summonses.
• Front mounted camera for recording crime scenes as police arrive.