https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE Expo
    • Calendar of Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Commentaries


Image via Mattes | Wikimedia Commons.

Article

The rise of automatic license plate recognition

The rise of automatic license plate recognition

  • Written by Matt Hill
  • 1st May 2019

Automatic license plate recognition (LPR) technology is becoming popular because it significantly reduces the time to arrest criminals. There is an increased need for advanced security measures on the roads, in schools, parking lots, tunnels, private businesses, etc. The addition of artificial intelligence to an existing surveillance system augments the capabilities of police to fight crime and victims to receive justice.

Prior to these advancements in technology, traditional LPR cameras were available. While still used today, you don’t see many traditional LPR devices being used because they are bulky, expensive, and less accurate than cameras using AI software. These AI-enabled surveillance cameras run on software that are cheaper, easy to install, and much more accurate, well into the 90th percentile. LPRs have been around for decades however, traditional as well as AI-enabled surveillance cameras have posed their share of concerns.

Size and cost are major factors when it comes to traditional LPRs as departments are limited in how many they can afford. The lack of LPR cameras can make investigations more difficult for law enforcement officials. For example, one LPR camera may identify a stolen vehicle.  However, officers may not know where the vehicle is headed until a second LPR registers a hit, if at all, which could be a few miles apart. As AI-enabled surveillance cameras are a cheaper and smaller alternative, departments across the U.S. are capable of installing more cameras which in turn has helped law enforcement establish a vehicle’s pattern.

The other concerns of traditional LPRs involve accuracy and response time. These devices have only achieved roughly 80% accuracy. In addition, traditional LPRs require a human to sift through the raw footage. This process can take time and when law enforcement is trying to tail a person of interest, time is not something they have. By the time someone pulls up the footage, gets to the exact frame officers are looking for, the vehicle and person of interest are long gone.

AI-enabled cameras take out the need for a middle man. Generally, these types of software will flag the vehicle and send an alert directly to law enforcement with all pertinent information, making response time much quicker. Also, many of these have reported better accuracy than traditional machines, reaching as high as 99%. The difference in cost is staggering as traditional LPRs can cost tens of thousands of dollars while AI-enabled software is, on average, less than $100 per month.

One common concern in regard to both traditional and AI-enabled LPRs is Big Brother using the data to spy on citizens. In some states, there are laws that prohibit the use of traffic cameras, such as red light and speed cameras, for multiple reasons – one being privacy. But what I’d encourage people to keep in mind is that cameras like these are a tool. The intended purpose is to keep the public safe from outside harm whether it be assisting in a moving violation or something more serious such as recovering a stolen vehicle or arresting a homicide suspect.

License plate recognition software has proven itself a valuable asset in 2018, assisting in the recovery of stolen property, locating stolen vehicles, and removing violent criminals from the streets. Partnering with households, neighborhoods, and businesses, police departments have established a wide network of surveillance cameras from which they can harvest significant data. Artificial intelligence has helped to refine the collection of that data, automated its processing, and enhanced police investigative techniques. We have merely scratched the surface of the capabilities and potential applications of this technology. The integration of surveillance systems, traditional police work, and artificial intelligence has created a faster and more proactive crime-fighting system, the likes of which should be heeded by criminals in 2019.

 

Matt Hill is the chief science officer of Rekor Systems and founder of OpenALPR, He graduated from the University of Virginia in 2005 with a degree in Computer Engineering. He worked in the technology field for various software companies before founding OpenALPR in 2015.

Tags: Smart Cities & Technology Commentaries Commentaries Article

Most Recent


  • digital
    How to leverage digital tools to drive innovation in government
    The rapid evolution of digital technologies transformed the way governments function, making them more efficient, transparent and citizen-friendly. Rather than relying on crystal trophies, governments can leverage digital tools to drive innovation and streamline processes, benefiting the population they serve. Open data and crowdsourcing Open data refers to making government data available to the public, […]
  • Broadband
    Oversight committee addresses NTIA reauthorization, FCC broadband map ahead of BEAD Program funding allocations
    As technological advancements continue to roll out at a breakneck pace, from artificial intelligence to high speed broadband connectivity, investment in digital infrastructure has become a defining theme of the modern era. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, (R-Wash.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, stressed the importance of this charge in opening remarks at […]
  • zero trust
    Zero trust is a great strategy but a terrible name
    The monthly town hall meeting was going well until they got to the agenda item called “zero trust.” What was to be a routine request for additional funding to implement a zero-trust environment quickly became one of confusion and misunderstanding. Trust in government at all levels has continued its downward spiral over the years. So, […]
  • ransomware
    Dallas ransomware attack shuts down systems, forces public safety to use backup communication protocols
    For the last week, information technology administrators in Dallas have been working around the clock to mitigate the impact of a widespread ransomware attack that disrupted business, caused first responders to impliment backup communication protocols, and took public-facing digital infrastructure offline. Since the early morning hours of last Wednesday, when ransomware was discovered in the […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Starting to build a smart city infrastructure ecosystem
  • How space technology helps emergency personnel respond to disasters
  • How do you reach the next generation? Through their phones, of course
  • The rise of automatic license plate recognition
    5 ideas from Silicon Valley on making your city more innovative

WHITE PAPERS


5 reasons why Plan Examiners need Objective Trapeze

30th May 2023

7 Permitting & Licensing Fails Slowing Community Growth

24th May 2023

The Secret Ingredient to Local Government Employee Retention

23rd May 2023
view all

Webinars


How to Centralize and Build a Grants Management Process at your Organization

24th May 2023

Making Permitting Easier: What We’ve Learned Helping America’s Largest Cities Improve Their Permitting Process

16th May 2023

Digital Property Tax Collection: Tales from the Trenches of Modernization

16th May 2023
view all

Podcast


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Gallery: Annual index ranks America’s top performing cities; most are in the West

30th May 2023

Gallery: Top 10 American cities for seasonal and summer jobs

25th May 2023

Gallery: 10 of America’s most affordable cities

9th May 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Digital government comes with massive benefits — and new considerations, from accessibility to security to customer… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

31st May 2023
AmerCityCounty

5 reasons why Plan Examiners need Objective Trapeze dlvr.it/Sptl5z

30th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

Navigating crises with confidence: Five ways strategic plans support crisis response dlvr.it/SptVKN

30th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

Gallery: Annual index ranks America’s top performing cities; most are in the West dlvr.it/SpszdK

30th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

2022 Crown Communities Award winner: Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts’ jury selection system dlvr.it/SphCBk

26th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

Gallery: Top 10 American cities for seasonal and summer jobs dlvr.it/SpdFWy

25th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

How to leverage digital tools to drive innovation in government dlvr.it/Spcktb

25th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

With many cities facing a fiscal cliff as ARPA funding ends, debt ceiling debate continues on Capitol Hill dlvr.it/SpZLph

24th May 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.