Paper Tag From Cops Read in Oklahoma

Automatic license plate readers can be a powerful tool for police enforcement agencies, merely it's important to know what yous should expect from this technology (hint – it's more than you remember)

Sponsored by PIPS Engineering science

By Police1 BrandFocus Staff

One of the most useful tools in the law enforcement toolkit is the automatic license plate reader. Whether mounted on a patrol vehicle or attached to a pole or other fixed surface, ALPR cameras can browse passing license plates and cross-reference their registration numbers against stolen vehicle warrants, suspect watchlists or active Bister Alerts and send plate matches to officers to aid quick apprehensions.

License plate reader applied science has advanced significantly in the last decade, and it'southward important to know what you should await when investing in these tools. (paradigm/PIPS Technology)

Over the years, a number of myths have arisen most ALPR technology, many of them excuses for inadequate performance by lower-quality units. With the aid of the experts at PIPS Technology, a provider of high-functioning ALPR for more than than twenty years, we bust half a dozen of the most common misconceptions virtually license plate readers in police force enforcement.

MYTH one: Detection accurateness beneath 90% is acceptable

Many users assume that a license plate detection accuracy level around 90% is skillful enough. Not so, says Luke Normington, managing manager of PIPS Engineering science.

"The license plate detection accuracy rate should be 98% or higher," said Normington. "The plates that you miss could be on vehicles driven by wanted criminals, child abductors or even Public Enemy No. 1. This is why PIPS is always enhancing our accurateness rate through our purpose-built cameras and optical character recognition algorithms, with the goal of getting equally close to 100% every bit we can."

MYTH ii: All plates are created equal

A second myth is that all license plates are created equal, which means a bargain ane-size-fits-all ALPR solution with third-party OCR is skillful enough for whatever jurisdiction.

Unfortunately, this isn't true at all: Different colors and materials present unlike challenges, and some combinations are harder to read than others. This is why law enforcement agencies demand an ALPR arrangement designed to accurately read even the well-nigh difficult-to-read plate designs, including temporary paper plates.

"Until recently, Massachusetts' license plates didn't apply any carbon blackness in their letters and numbers, which made them hard to read," said Peter Crary, PIPS head of enquiry and development. "This is precisely why PIPS has devised algorithms specific to Massachusetts – and all other regions – to ensure plate reading accuracy in all areas. To go the highest performance from ALPR, law enforcement agencies need this level of customization in their ALPR systems."

MYTH iii: Sharing data means you lose command and custody of your data

Sharing license plate data with other law enforcement agencies is a good thought. Just some ALPR providers take ownership of that data and sell it data to third parties, which can wreak havoc with the chain of custody.

To keep this from happening, cull an ALPR vendor that enables your agency to share data while retaining ownership. The vendor should likewise offer a data management arrangement that provides a clear chain of evidence throughout, because a proficient defense attorney will want to know everything about that information, says Crary – and at that place are ways to reap the benefits of sharing data with your neighbors without losing control of your information.

"The interoperability between neighboring systems tin absolutely exist delivered, only in a controlled, secure way," said Normington. "Information technology has to be under control, and it has to be auditable. Our backend software solutions are designed to allow agencies to share data with each other, but they always maintain the ownership and control of that data and who they share it with."

MYTH 4: Cloud processing of video images is all-time

The cloud is a great resources for data management, but it isn't the best choice for all situations. When it comes to processing mobile ALPR hits, for example, sending information to and from the cloud can swallow up precious seconds, peculiarly if the signal is traveling over commercial cellular networks, which can create connection problems, latency problems and delays in issuing alerts.

Await for a truly mobile ALPR organization that uses an "edge capture" approach, where the images are processed by the vehicle's own onboard ALPR arrangement to provide alerts in milliseconds.

"Twoscore seconds is a lifetime when the plate y'all're reading is on a car passing you at 50 mph," said Crary. "PIPS' Edge Capture systems does the task in the glimmer of an centre. This gives patrol machine officers plenty time to turn around and intercept a flagged vehicle, even at loftier speeds."

MYTH v: ALPR systems and hardware aren't built to last

Police force need tough stuff, and consumer-grade hardware isn't built to last. PIPS Technology's professional ALPR systems are designed to be rugged and reliable, which is why many PIPS customers have reported successfully using their ALPR systems for up to a decade.

"This is the divergence betwixt buying purpose-built industrial grade ALPR systems that lasts versus cobbled-together consumer-class equipment that doesn't," Normington said. "We take customers who tell u.s. they've had patrol vehicles that have been attacked and burned, yet they take the camera off the peak, requite it a polish, and it starts working once again. From a hardware perspective, we have been very proud the longevity and robustness of the product."

MYTH 6: Everyone tin brand a successful ALPR system

Many companies are adding ALPR to their product offerings, while others are dedicated solely to refining the technology. Simply as it requires an automotive builder who is serious near functioning, mode and safety to build a great car, police enforcement agencies demand to find an ALPR vendor with a proven rail record to become a reliable, durable ALPR system.

"This is all we do. We read and curate license plate transactions," said Crary, "and so you tin can utilise the technology in a manner that really starts to drive advantages."

PIPS Technology has amassed over 2 decades' worth of data, expertise and success in the ALPR field. The company is investing in artificial intelligence to heighten its ALPR capabilities – just AI is not a magic bullet, caution Crary and Normington.

"If you oasis't got the foundational experience in place, just beingness able to do AI doesn't necessarily aid you lot unlock all the secrets," said Normington.

The right selection for the job

While LPR has been available since the early on 1980s, the technology has advanced significantly in the concluding decade, and it's of import to know what you should wait when investing in these tools.

The six myths busted higher up prove a simple point: To get the virtually authentic, reliable and durable automated license plate readers and vehicle detection systems available, law enforcement agencies need to select a vendor with a history of dedication to the mission and providing cutting-border technology to practice the job correct.

For more than information visit PIPS Engineering .

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