Automatic License Plate Recognition

The Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology installed in police cars “reads” vehicle plates as they enter the view of a vehicle-mounted or roadside infrared camera, and checks them against a database for nearly instantaneous identification. The system runs continuously, automatically capturing images of license plates with a camera that works in nearly every lighting condition.

Overview

Enhance your officers’ safety and productivity while maximizing your department’s revenue with Motorola’s Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR). ALPR uses infrared cameras to automatically and continuously read vehicle license plates. It then checks the plates against an installed database for rapid identity verification. Your officers are free to focus on other police work knowing that they will be alerted only when a “hit” occurs.

Automatic, Fast and Accurate

• Automatically locate and match vehicle plates against wanted lists
• Conduct surveillance in any environmental setting, under varying light conditions
• Provides 130 mph relative capture speed with 90% accuracy
• New Back Office System Server (BOSS) Software
• Database formatting including ability to customize PAGIS screens and alarms based on system “hits”
• Import of national and regional databases
• Ability to map all locations related to a single license plate to track movements
• Ability to cross reference perpetrator ID number (driver’s license, social security, etc.) with license plate database
• Wireless database updates with AirMobile Integration
• Update hot list database wirelessly with AirMobile over an 802.11 or MESH network
• No manual intervention is needed – when a vehicle drives into a hotspot the list is updated

Benefits

With Motorola’s Automatic License Plate Recognition, safety and productivity go hand in hand. While your officers are busy focusing on the demands of being in the field, ALPR is automatically checking license plates to alert them to potential felons, or other wants or warrants for various violations. Officers will know when to call for back up, and they are more easily able to identify parking scofflaws, stolen vehicles, license violations, etc.

Increase Situational Awareness

• Officers are alerted if they are dealing with an armed felon
• They know when to call for back up
• When they approach a vehicle, officers know who and what to expect

A Force Multiplier

• Automatically matches vehicle plates against wanted lists
• Facilitates Amber Alert and Be-On-The-Lookout tracking
• Identifies other wants and warrants
• Generate Additional Revenue
• Enables parking ticket enforcement
• Increases funds from collection of delinquent violations
• Helps recover money from drug interdiction
• Identifies stolen or wanted vehicles

Details

ALPR offers programming flexibility, reliability in varied conditions and situations, and the speed and accuracy that your officers demand in their daily work.

• ALPR boasts a 90% accuracy rate and 130 mph relative capture speed.
• In addition to NCIC databases, the ALPR database can be programmed to include state and local wants and warrants for various violations. Officers also can enter plate numbers into the system for Amber Alerts or other immediate alerts.
• ALPR allows officers to conduct surveillance even under varied lighting and weather conditions.
• ALPR uses ruggedized, infrared cameras that connect to leading-edge optical character recognition (OCR) technology software.
• AirMobile integration provides automatic wireless database updates over an 802.11 or MESH network.
• Back Office System Software (BOSS) enables formatting of the database with customized PAGIS screens and alarms based in system “hits.”
• National and regional databases can be imported through BOSS.
• BOSS facilitates cross-referencing of perpetrator’s ID numbers (driver’s license, social security number, etc) with the license plate database.
• BOSS also enables officers to map the location and track the movement of a single license plate.

Results

ALPR Technology Trial Nabs Wanted Suspects

The Pennsylvania State Police recently tested the ALPR system, which was pivotal in an October arrest on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

During the first week of the test, a car was observed speeding on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Chester County. While the trooper was pulling up behind the vehicle, its license plate was automatically “read’’ by the camera mounted on the cruiser and processed through a database installed in the trooper’s onboard computer. The ALPR system showed the vehicle as stolen, which alerted the trooper to call for backup before he even approached its occupants.

The trooper then conducted a further check on the state database, which showed that the three occupants of the vehicle in question were wanted in connection with an earlier kidnapping and attempted murder case.