To make Detroit’s freeways safer, the city is installing 450 high-tech cameras designed to fight violent crime with real-time monitoring. This $30 million project, paid for by a state grant, gives police the ability to watch live footage and track suspects as crimes unfold. For a city dealing with a growing number of freeway shootings, it’s a bold move aimed at saving lives and catching criminals faster.
These new cameras are popping up along Detroit’s busiest freeways, including I-94, I-96, and I-75, covering 68 miles of road. Each one can stream live video straight to the police, helping them follow suspects who try to speed away after a crime. They also come with license plate readers that snap pictures of vehicle plates and alert officers if a wanted car drives by. As of January 2025, 25 cameras are already in place, with the rest set to be finished by late 2025.
Detroit’s freeways have seen a troubling spike in violence, with over 50 freeway shootings reported each year recently. Police say solving these crimes is tough, with 60-70% of cases missing a known suspect. The cameras are meant to change that by giving officers instant eyes on the scene and hard evidence to track down culprits.
The technology is straightforward but powerful. Live video streams let police see what’s happening right away. License plate readers flag vehicles tied to crimes. Footage is saved for 30 days, and plate data sticks around for up to 90 days if it’s not part of a case. The system skips facial recognition and is limited to serious crimes like shootings or felonies, keeping its focus tight.
The state of Michigan is footing the bill with a $30 million grant approved back in June 2023. Installation kicked off that year, and the city is on track to wrap up the full network by the end of 2025. It’s a big investment, but city leaders say it’s worth it to make Detroit’s roads safer.
Not everyone is on board. Some Detroiters and civil liberties groups are raising privacy concerns, worried that constant camera surveillance could track innocent people or lead to misuse. There’s also been grumbling about a lack of clear details on how the grant money is being managed. Advocates want strict rules to make sure the tech isn’t abused.
For many in Detroit, the cameras hit close to home. Leonard Bates, a local who lost his son to a freeway shooting, sees them as a chance for justice.
“It’s too late for my boy, but maybe this stops another family from hurting,”
he said. Others aren’t so sure, wondering if the city’s cash could better help struggling neighborhoods instead.
This isn’t Detroit’s first crack at using tech to fight crime. The city already has 100 license plate readers at intersections, and these freeway cameras build on that effort. Police hope the combo will cut down on violence and make drivers feel safer heading down I-75 or across I-94.
