The new ALPR-ANPR traffic cameras have the ability to provide valuable information to security departments, police departments, congestion management, tolling, and other safety situations.

In early 2000, a company by the name of INEX introduced the next generation of portable ALPR cameras allowing the capture of up to 65% to 75% of vehicles with a high degree of accuracy.

The INEX cameras (circa 2000) allowed 24-hour deployment, a fairly high degree of reliability in the matching system and a reasonably high resolution of the JPEG images of the individual license plates. The only drawback of this year 2000 system was its need for a separate monitor and processor in a large, cumbersome case.

In 2009, CA Traffic, located in London, developed the EV08 portable ANPR/ALPR cameras. This technology combines the camera and the processor in one lightweight unit that is easily deployed to bridges and roadsides. It returns accuracy between 85% and 90% of captured license plates.

Since 2003, The Traffic Group, Inc., has conducted more than 20 license plate origin and destination studies using ALPR/ANPR cameras. We have captured or tracked more than four million license plates. The CA Traffic EV08 cameras use less than a quarter of an amp of electricity versus the INEX cameras in the early 2000’s that required ten times that amount. The current technology allows the cameras and the process to be housed in a single self-contained lightweight unit, but not yet battery-powered.

Here are a few examples of where data from ALPR studies can be valuable:

1. Sex offender tracking near schools. 
2. Amber Alerts 
3. Tracking of vehicles in/out of airports – terrorist tracking 
4. Speed Reduction 
5. Red Light running 

Data Collection Process – Portable Installs

The first step is to evaluate the data collection locations. Each location is visited to determine lane width or bridge height (for temporary locations) and identify any challenges the site might pose. We would then calculate the appropriate camera zoom necessary for accurate license plate capture for the selected location for study or capture.

The raw data report will include the following information and will be provided in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

1. License Plate Numbers 
2. Location Direction 
3. Time (Hour, Minute, Second) 
4. Date 

In different countries or by different users, ALPR may also be known as:

1. Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) 
2. Car Plate Recognition (CPR) 
3. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) 
4. Car Plate Reader (CPR) 

We are encouraged by the use of ALPR cameras that can provide data to safety and law enforcement agencies to include the following services.

It is no longer hard to rationalize the use of ALPR as it relates to safety; Amber alerts, registered sex offender violators, terrorist tracking, speed controls, or red light running to name a few. As time marches on, other ways to use ALPR for safety purposes will be developed.

1) Cars can be monitored along roadways during an Amber alert. The wanted vehicle’s license plate can be highlighted in the system – when it is “captured” by a camera, it can notify authorities when it is traveling and the direction. “Hiding” is more difficult.

2) We are currently working with a new technology company that will notify school authorities if an unauthorized car enters a school campus. Additionally, all registered sex offenders plates can populate the data base and if an authorized vehicle enters the campus, police can be notified. (www.mhrtechnologies.com) 

3) Speed kills – rural highways have a much higher fatal rate than other suburban and urban street systems. Speed cameras are making a difference – worldwide.

4) The most critically damaging of all auto accidents? “T-bones” or right angle collisions. Red light running cameras are fighting the war against “T-bones” and the war is being won. Motorists are becoming more and more aware of running red lights, amber/yellow light.

5) Radical extremists intent on harming Americans – they can be more easily tracked and monitored by using ALPR. Authorities at airports and parking facilities around the U.S. are now using ALPR cameras to notify Homeland Security personnel when a suspected terrorist enters an airport campus.

6) Work zone accidents on freeways, expressways and the Interstate system have become a nationwide epidemic. Today, the use of ALPR cameras in a portable environment, are helping to slow down cars and trucks to provide a much larger measure of safety for construction workers. The speed of vehicles on high speed roads (50, 60, 70 MPH) increase the likelihood of a death, if an accident occurs within a construction zone. The possibility of a vehicle “jumping” a temporary jersey barrier increases with higher speeds. ALPR cameras help to solve part of that safety problem.

Two men were wanted on suspicion of attempted murder were stopped by armed police at the Polegate crossroads on Saturday, February 6, 2010.

Both men, aged 21 and 25, were from Liverpool and were wanted by Police. Their black Ford Focus was stopped at 3:41 PM.

Officers on the ground had tracked the car; ANPR cameras and the Sussex Police helicopter were instrumental in the capture.

Specials and regular police officers joined forces for a weekend blitz on vehicle crime in Warwickshire. 

Seven people were arrested and 17 vehicles were seized in the operation, which took place in Alcester and Rugby and involved Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) checks. 

Throughout the weekend cameras were placed along key routes and any vehicles that registered a hit were stopped.

In six hours 76 vehicles were stopped. Four were seized for offences including no insurance. Three people were also arrested one on suspicion of possession of class A drugs, one on suspicion on theft of a motor vehicle and one who had overstayed his permission to be in the country.

On Sunday the operation was based in Newbold Road, Rugby. A total of 96 vehicles were stopped and 13 were seized.