The Donelson HOA board is holding a meeting about installing cameras for license plate readers

DONELSON, Tenn. (WSMV) – A board of the Donelson Homeowners Association is trying to install their own license plate readers (LPRs).

LPRs are cameras intended to capture and record vehicle license plates and the Harborview district wants to have these cameras installed throughout the area.

Board members said they were tired of crime and that the city was not installing its own cameras.

Homeowners in the Harborview neighborhood shared their thoughts on the topic ahead of the HOA board meeting.

Homeowner Augustine Chiper of Harborview said, “What, someone spying on us again.”

Chiper said it is a controversial proposal.

Some homeowners say installing LPRs is a step too far in terms of invading privacy, while others say they could help police crack down on crime in the neighborhood.

Harborview homeowner Molly Moore said she supports its installation, especially after a recent shooting in the neighborhood.

Moore said the recent shooting hit very close to home for her.

“The person was standing in our front yard when the gunshots were fired, so when we heard that we were going to take action to hopefully prevent bad things from happening in the neighborhood, my husband and I were really excited,” Moore said.

HOA board members held a virtual meeting Friday evening to discuss how they plan to pay for the LPR cameras, tell homeowners they can opt out of having the cameras read their license plate, and hear questions from the opponents.

Moore said she attended the virtual meeting because she knew the mixed opinions that would emerge.

“I knew the discussions were probably going to be all over the place about privacy and the costs associated with it, all those things,” Moore said.

HOA board members said the funding for these LPRs will come from the usual monthly HOA fees that people have already paid and that the monthly fees will not increase, but many said this money could be used in other ways to improve the neighborhood.

“I think I can understand that to some extent this information won’t come out publicly, so as long as no one does anything bad, no one will unearth the data,” Moore said.

HOA board members said an online voting portal has been activated for people to vote for or against the LPRs. That portal will come down on Wednesday and a decision will be made.

If approved, the LPRs could be installed sometime in November.