Sep 9, 2008 7:53 pm US/Eastern
Goal Of New Billboards Is To Fight Crime
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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New digital billboards used by the FBI to catch the most wanted may be a sign of the times.
CBS
New digital billboards used by the FBI to catch the most wanted may be a sign of the times.
As
Gigi Barnett explains, drivers can already see them in clear view.
From Michael Phelps to smoke detectors, billboards can say almost anything and the FBI hopes they will help catch the most wanted criminals.
"I saw one of those billboards on Sunday when I was driving on I-95 and was very impressed with the clarity of the billboard and the pictures being displayed," said FBI Special Agent Amy Jo Lyons.
Three new digital billboards are strategically placed on high-traffic roadways and will show photos of criminals, relay security messages to drivers and issue Amber Alerts to find missing children. Every 10 seconds, there's a new message.
"You're not talking about paper where it's a bunch of glue and they roll it out and it stays up there until it starts peeling off. This is something that can be altered and changed pretty quickly," said Police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld.
They're owned by Clear Channel Outdoor and the company says they've worked in 26 other cities.
"Within 15 minutes of the tragic I-35 bridge collapse in Minnesota, Clear Channel Outdoor was aiding by helping to divert traffic away from the area," said Steve Ginsburg.
The first billboard is on Russell Street, right next to the M&T Bank Stadium. There's another one on I-895, right next to the tunnel and drivers can see the third one as they head down I-95 South, just before Caton Avenue.
At 14 feet high and 48 feet wide, they're seen for miles. City police say it only takes one phone call from a tipster to change the course of an investigation.
"We have radios and computers that we can exchange information. The real trick is how to get that out to the citizens in the community," Bealefeld said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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