Automated license plate readers are a hot topic of debate as police departments around the county start to use them. The El Cajon Police Department says that since the technology was implemented in late July, the readers have made a huge difference in recovering stolen vehicles. “The amount of impact I’ve seen from this program in just 3 months, I wish we would’ve started it years ago,” said Chief of Police Mike Moulton. “If you drive a stolen car in El Cajon, we’re going to arrest you and put you in jail.” The three-year pilot program consists of 40 cameras across the city affixed to light and traffic poles. Over the past three months, Moulton says fifty stolen vehicles have been recovered with a grand value of $500,000, and 59 people have been arrested. MORE:https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/el-cajon-police-recover-cars-using-license-plate-readers/509-d39a4e31-4d22-4db7-82cb-d044e80b3e71