The Reno Police Department (RPD) is expanding the use of technology to automatically read license plates in an effort to reduce gun violence.

RPD's Public Information Officer, Travis Warren said, "This will happen through a couple of stages, and the first is going to be education in our community. And the second portion will be looking at areas where we have a high reported amount of gun crime and utilizing these both static and mobile license plate readers in order for us to locate suspects associated with violent crimes and gun crimes."

The surveillance equipment is not new technology. Warren says the police department has been using the cameras for about five years. The cameras are placed on some of its squad cars and is angled to take pictures of license plates. Then the image and location is stored in the police department's data base.

The Reno City Council approved a grant of up to $117,000 to buy two mobile and six fixed license plate readers, despite critics' concerns it could be used to monitor the movement of law-abiding citizens.

The Reno Gazette Journal reports a visiting professor at the University of Nevada, Reno who specializes in mass surveillance technology is among those raising concerns about potential abuse.

David Mass says most people would find it “creepy” if their neighbors were tracking their comings and goings.

Another resident named Steven who wouldn't give his last name also said the practice is invasive.

"They say it's to reduce gun violence, but I don't believe that, I think that's just an excuse for them. I think it's an invasion of privacy because it just scans everybody's license plate as they go so, I don't agree with it." Steven said.

However, there are some locals who are in favor of the surveillance method.

Damian Branting said, "An extra set of eyes everywhere doesn't hurt too much. Especially, I know Reno is expanding a lot and a lot more people are coming in so I feel like extra surveillance doesn't hurt anyone and it could help out in a lot of places."

Warren also adds the police department is not using the information gathered to monitor law-abiding citizens.

"Even for our investigators or officers to obtain the information that's scanned by the camera, our officers have to go through a step where they enter a case number. So when I talked about how we use this for criminal investigations, that's the purpose of that." said Warren.