Automated license plate recognition technology has numerous advantages for businesses and law enforcement agencies. The systems scan large numbers of plates quickly, allowing businesses to improve security and police to easily identify a range of problem drivers. The ALPR solution has proved helpful for a large number of organizations.
A Brief History
The technology was invented in Great Britain in the 1970s. The Police Scientific Development Branch had a goal to combat terrorism with ALPR. The system’s use in law enforcement and business did not expand much until the 1990s when it became more affordable. Its first use in the United States was for reading plates at border crossings.
Business Use Examples
Organizations that provide parking for their employees and clients can have trouble with other people using the lot or garage. They’ve learned which parking areas don’t have security guards and where they are unlikely to be caught. This behavior isn’t a problem when there’s plenty of space available and those using the area aren’t trouble-makers. However, when space is tight and unauthorized individuals leave vehicles there, people connected with the organization can have difficulty finding a convenient place to park.
For paid parking, the technology allows the business to avoid needing a check-in and check-out point. Paying upon check-out generally requires either a human attendant or a digital method of paying by card. With ALPR, the system notes the plate number and the payment process takes place virtually upon exit.
Using ALPR for retail curbside pickup is an increasingly popular choice. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, brick-and-mortar retailers responded to the surge in online ordering by offering this option with curbside pickup. Many consumers still prefer this choice now. Traditionally, they have been asked to text or call when they arrive. With ALPR technology, store employees are alerted of the arrival immediately. This makes the entire process faster and more efficient.
Law Enforcement Examples
With ALPR technology, police can identify individuals whose driver’s licenses have been suspended or revoked but are still using the vehicle. This behavior is relatively common, with those drivers being cautious about staying off busy streets and not violating any traffic laws.
Stolen automobiles sometimes are found when ALPR recognizes the license plate. Police also can find uninsured and unregistered vehicles this way. It might seem simple enough to find unregistered vehicles with out-of-date plate tags, but theft of those tags is rampant in some municipalities. People steal tags and place them on their own license plates to avoid paying expensive renewal fees.
The technology also allows police officers to identify drivers who had been signaled to pull over for speeding but did not comply. This most commonly occurs with motorcyclists who know they can outrun police cars. Some motorcyclists make a game of this, traveling toward the edge of town in a group at high speeds while darting in and out of traffic. With the plate number caught on camera, and the speed verified by a recording device, these offenders are more likely to be apprehended.
