Publication

Author: National Policing Institute

Innovative Uses of Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) to Enhance Criminal Investigations

Publication Date: June 2019

Each license plate scan from an ALPR camera captures an infrared image of the license plate number, a color image of the vehicle, and its GPS coordinates. The camera then places a date and time stamp on the image. In order to maximize their potential to capture data, some cities have strategically placed ALPR cameras to cover the primary entrance and exit points of the city. ALPRs have the capability to instantaneously cross- reference data captured by an ALPR to license plate numbers entered into state law enforcement databases as stolen, related to a missing person, or as part of a felony crime investigation. After explaining the capabilities of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), this paper discusses how they can be used to produce leads, facilitate crime scene analysis, identify suspects, and facilitate interrogation.

Topic(s):

Technology; Investigations