Renewed call for LPRs after Nashville doctor involved in serious pedestrian hit-and-run 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Some Metro leaders continue to push for license plate readers after a Nashville doctor was involved in a serious pedestrian hit-and-run over the weekend.

TriStar Stonecrest’s Dr. Joshua Taylor was crossing the street near the Melrose area when he was reportedly struck by a vehicle before it drove off. News 2 continues to show surveillance video of a maroon Jeep Liberty, with a gray or black driver’s side door, that police are seeking.

“Could LPRs help in this instance? There is no doubt about it,” said Jordan Huffman, Metro Councilmember for District 14.

Huffman said LPRs have been caught up in controversy and politics after Nashville took part in a 6-month pilot program that ended in 2023.

“LPRs are utilized throughout the country, and they are proven to significantly help solve hit and runs like this,” Huffman said.

Currently, every county surrounding Davidson County has an LPR system.

However, right now, the priority for the Metro Council is passing Fusus. The surveillance program allows police to access business surveillance cameras with the owner’s permission. However, the program has also been met with criticism when it comes to privacy concerns.   

“It’s just one more step on a very, very slippery slope,” one councilmember said back in December.

However, Huffman believes Fusus will get the votes it needs and pass by the end of March. He said then it would be all hands on deck for LPRs.

He hopes an LPR contract will be on his desk by the spring. “As far as a timeline goes, if we pass this, then I think we can start seeing these installed at the end of this year, but we are so far behind and we can’t get these things up quick enough.”

He said if LPRs were already in place, they would most likely catch this driver and countless more criminals.

“We can start to close cases. We can keep our streets safe and that’s what our public demands and that’s what I’m after,” Huffman said.