Did Cheltenham cancel the plate reader camera?
The Inquirer reported that Cheltenham will not buy the Packetalk camera its commissioners approved in September. The $35,000 camera was meant to monitor a township construction site, with a possible later use at community events. It includes an automatic license plate reader, or ALPR.
Before the vote, residents told officials at the Sept. 16 meeting that the camera has an ALPR. Several township officials, including the board president and the police chief, said they weren't sure whether it did. Township Manager Jonathan Altshul said he didn't think it had one. The commissioners approved the purchase anyway.
What happened after the vote?
- September: commissioners approve the $35,000 Packetalk camera.
- Shortly after the Sept. 16 meeting: Altshul asks IT Director Michael Rubin to hold off on buying it.
- Oct. 5: Altshul writes a memo saying he misspoke and that the cameras do include ALPR and AI technology.
- Oct. 14: Altshul tells a committee meeting about the change in plans.
Board President Matthew Areman and other officials said in September that they didn't intend to use the camera as a plate reader. The memo does not change that statement, but it does mean the township now treats the camera as one that includes ALPR.
The company's CEO, Tamer Zakhary, was charged in 2023 with selling Chinese surveillance tools banned under the National Defense Authorization Act, and with lying to public safety clients about compliance, according to the report. The federal charges were later dropped without explanation or prejudice, which means prosecutors could bring them again.
What changes for drivers in Cheltenham?
The Packetalk purchase is off. Altshul said he asked staff not to buy the camera. The Packetalk cameras at Wall Park are still in place, and a township spokesperson said on Oct. 13 that those cameras do not use AI or ALPRs.
Check the camera map to see mapped cameras near you, and read how plate readers work for background on what these systems record.
What can residents ask the township?
- Does Cheltenham have any other cameras, and do they include ALPR?
- Can the township confirm the Wall Park cameras' features in writing?
- Will the township publish its surveillance equipment records? Compare what it posts with agency transparency records.
The report does not name a date for any further township action on surveillance equipment. Residents who want a written answer on the Wall Park cameras should ask the commissioners before their next public meeting.