Computers Track ‘Cruising’ Cars

Under a new program to control automobile “cruising” along Hollywood Boulevard, police set up computers to track cars at two locations on the crowded strip Friday night, but officers reported that no citations were issued.

By law, occupants of any car that drives past a designated checkpoint more than twice in two hours may be cited. The computers keep a record of passing license plate numbers noted by police.

When the same number is typed more than once, the computer beeps and automatically prints out a warning for the officer to hand to the driver, said Sgt. Gordon Campbell, an LAPD spokesman. If the same vehicle shows up a third time, then “everyone in the car is issued a citation,” Campbell said.

Sgt. Steve Yadon, who heads the LAPD’s cruising task force, said the computers worked well.

“The only problem was we were unable to issue any citations for cruising,” Yadon said. “We had people pass the checkpoints twice during the time period, but no one came by three times.”

The program was begun after local merchants sought an alternative to the traffic barricades police formerly used to deter cruising.