Innovative PoE Powered Intelligence Solutions that Save Lives
License plate recognition (LPR) technology is becoming increasingly popular among law enforcement agencies across the United States. With LPR, police officers can scan license plates on vehicles and instantly check against a database to see if the vehicle is stolen, has expired registration, or is associated with any criminal activity. This technology has been around for several years, but advancements in internet and Ethernet technologies have made it more efficient and effective.
LPR technology involves a camera that captures an image of a vehicle’s license plate, which is then processed by software that converts the image into text. The text is compared against a database of license plates that have been flagged by law enforcement agencies. If a match is found, the officer is alerted and can take appropriate action.
License Plate Recognition is the hottest technology in law enforcement and has been compared to the radio relative to its positive and effective impact on policing efforts.
In-vehicle secure PoE technology has enabled tens of thousands of Police License Plate Readers (LPR) and other communication devices globally in the last two years alone.
Supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Mobile PoE based License Plate Recognition is as an effective tool for law enforcement. It is becoming a mainstream technology for combating violent crime, narcotics trafficking, auto theft, identity theft, and more.
PoE IP-based license plate readers and associated automatic recognition is helping law enforcement in real time. Our solution leverages in-vehicle power even at low 6v voltage extremes to keep critical systems up and the vehicle running.
Our trunk mounted PoE Ethernet In-Vehicle switch and PoE IP License Plate Reader technology mounted on the side of police cars is allowing police to keep the roads safer. These cameras are advanced cameras capturing your license plate and if you haven’t seen them, they have probably seen you.
License Plate Reader Applications
Besides rolling mobile scanning for current vehicle registration, the PoE Ethernet powered units have the ability to scan for stolen vehicles or recover other property, execute warrants, and apprehend unlicensed and prohibited drivers. Officers are safely notified before having to confront a driver.
Fixed sobriety road checks have the ability to scan license plates at a short distance away from vehicles and provide extra alerts to the officers. Covert vehicles equipped with License Plate Readers can also be used by surveillance teams to target suspect vehicles thus helping avoid dangerous pursuits, eliminate overall general population damage, and prevent injury or death as a result of a collision.
Benefits of License Plate Reader Technology
One of the biggest advancements in LPR technology has been the integration of internet and Ethernet technologies. In the past, LPR systems were standalone devices that were not connected to any network. This meant that data had to be manually entered into the system, and there was no real-time connection to a database of license plates. With the integration of internet and Ethernet technologies, LPR systems can now be connected to a network, allowing for real-time access to a database of license plates.
This connection to a network has also allowed for the development of mobile LPR systems that can be mounted on police vehicles. These mobile systems can capture license plates as police officers drive around, allowing for more efficient and widespread monitoring of vehicles.
Improved Performance and Efficiency: There is no comparison between the number of plates an officer on patrol entering license plate information manually into an on-board computer and the number that automated License Plate Reader technology can handle.
Another advancement in LPR technology is the use of machine learning algorithms to improve accuracy. These algorithms are trained on large datasets of license plate images, allowing them to recognize patterns and make predictions with a high degree of accuracy. This means that LPR systems can now accurately recognize license plates even in challenging conditions, such as in low light or when the license plate is dirty or obscured.
With the potential ability to read up to 3,000 plates an hour, this technology cannot help but improve productivity. Not only does the system read plates rapidly, but hits are collected only on vehicles displaying license plates that match the desired criteria and appear in the database.
Law abiding citizens are not targeted or negatively affected in any way. Data collected in the United Kingdom showed that License Plate Reader hits accounted for 56 percent of the vehicles stopped and generated 54 percent of the arrests. Of those arrested, 55 percent had previous criminal records. Data from the United Kingdom further suggest that Automated License Plate Reader enabled intercept teams achieve an arrest rate 10 times greater than the national average. Because the ALPR system can check many more plates than an officer can manually, officers will make many more roadside stops, thus enhancing the level of police visibility within their communities, which in turn can increase public confidence in the police.
Police Vehicle PoE IP LPR Camera
Increased Crime Detection: The substantially larger number of vehicles pulled over as a result of this LPR technology in patrol cars means that officers will come face to face with more criminals, generating more arrests.
U.K. data suggest that the national deployment of 365 automated License Plate Reader teams would generate 219,000 additional arrests per year.
Officers attached to Automated License Plate Reader teams make 10 times more arrests than non-automated License Plate Reader members. Arrests that are the result of ALPR stops are primarily for vehicle crimes, robbery, theft, burglary, and drug offenses. It is well known that car thieves steal cars not just to go for a drive but to help them commit other crimes such as breaking and entering, robbery, home invasion, and drug trafficking. In this way, ALPR technology can be valuable in preventing or solving many types of crime plaguing society.
As an officer cruises down the street, the cameras are snapping a picture of every single car that it passes and instantly checking them, any violations pop up on a screen mounted in the car. Every picture captured is stored with a GPS location. As patrol cars make their rounds they capture every car on every street, allowing investigators to connect the dots when crime happens.
The Other Side of LPR Surveillance
The use of LPR technology has not been without controversy, however. Some critics have raised concerns about privacy and the potential for abuse of the technology. There have been instances of LPR data being used for purposes other than law enforcement, such as tracking the movements of individuals or monitoring political protests.
To address these concerns, some states have implemented regulations on the use of LPR technology. For example, in California, police departments are required to delete LPR data after 60 days unless it is part of an ongoing investigation.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
In conclusion, License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology, powered by innovative Enable-IT PoE solutions, is revolutionizing law enforcement efforts across the United States. The integration of internet and Ethernet technologies has significantly enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of LPR systems, enabling real-time scanning and instant database checks. This technology has become a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, helping to combat various crimes, including auto theft, identity theft, and narcotics trafficking.
The use of machine learning algorithms has further improved the accuracy of LPR systems, allowing them to recognize license plates even in challenging conditions. This, combined with the ability to read up to 3,000 plates per hour, has greatly increased productivity and crime detection rates. Data from the United Kingdom suggests that Automated License Plate Reader teams achieve an arrest rate ten times greater than the national average, highlighting the effectiveness of this technology in combating crime.
Despite its effectiveness, the use of LPR technology has raised concerns about privacy and potential abuse. Some states have implemented regulations to address these concerns, such as requiring the deletion of LPR data after a certain period unless it is part of an ongoing investigation. As LPR technology continues to evolve, it is essential to strike a balance between its benefits and the protection of individual privacy rights.
