NCJ Number
218135
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 76 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 8-13
Date Published
March 2007
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes technology that police may currently or soon use in order to identify the license plates of vehicles driven by wanted criminals or that are the focus of a specific crime.
Abstract
License-plate-recognition (LPR) technology involves cameras that feed information into a central processing unit (CPU) that then "reads" the license plate, converts it into optical character recognition (OCR), and then attempts to match it with "hot" plates listed in a State or national database. Currently, LPR systems usually do not conduct live inquiry into a government database. Instead, users download information daily to keep queries to databases at a minimum. The information is then sent to an agency-supplied mobile data terminal, usually a laptop computer. LPR units come in fixed configurations for mounting on light or sign posts in areas of special concern in particular jurisdictions. Fixed-mount devices require a central dispatch site in order to verify alarms from multiple locations. The OCRs currently used cannot discern license plates from different States or territories and may also read markings on commercial vehicles and confuse them with license plates. Also, some fixed-mount units rely on vehicle speeds of less than 35 miles per hour, so selection of an installation point is critical. Mobile or portable LPR units can be mounted on marked or unmarked police, security, or government vehicles. Although the software and hardware used for LPR is far from perfect, it is still a significant resource for obtaining information that can be relevant to criminal investigations. There is potential for significant growth in LPR technology. Photographic illustrations and 5 notes