Port Authority announced a $10 million investment to install enhanced license plate readers at Staten Island bridge crossings to help with vehicle thefts in New Jersey and New York.

The high tech license plate readers will be installed at all three Staten Island crossings, including the Outerbridge Crossing, Goethals Bridge and the Bayonne Bridge.

Staten Island’s district attorney announced Monday that data from vehicular tracking technology associated with stolen vehicles or vehicles linked in other ways to criminal activity will be shared with regional law enforcement agencies for investigations and prosecutions.

Working together has assisted with the agency's enforcement of toll evasion and helped lead to a decrease of nearly 30% in auto thefts so far this year in Staten Island. Those involved went as far as calling the investment into the readers an essential tool for law enforcement.

“It will allow law enforcement a key tool with respect to auto theft with respect to identifying vehicles involved in any criminal activities and it has also been critical in the capability of law enforcement to locate missing persons,” said Rick Cotton, the executive director of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The Port Authority's $10 million investment at its Staten Island crossings will bring the total number of readers to 40, including 24 new readers at the Bayonne Bridge and at the Outerbridge Crossing, the agency expects.

Full installation is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.