[PDF] police cars automatically scan license plates

How does a police car scan a license plate?

A police car parked on the side of the highway can scan virtually every car license plate in sight. The can successfully identify a vehicle in the going in the other direction down the highway at 70mph. Every time an image is captured, it is saved with the time, date, and location by GPS coordinates.

Is scanning millions of license plates a violation of privacy?

Millions of license plates are scanned in order to combat crime. Is storing that information a violation of privacy? Police departments in Northern California and across the state and country are taking millions of pictures every day with automated license plate readers to help catch ‘moving criminals' where officers are not present.

What is an automatic license plate reader?

Automatic license plate reader (ALPR) systems are an increasingly common crimefighting device, though some call these scanners a “mass surveillance technology.” For this reason, a few states have restricted how long police and other organizations can store data on your cars driving habits.

How does a stolen car scanner work?

It consists of a portable computer equipped with a web camera that scans the stolen car database using automatic number-plate recognition. The system is installed on the dashboard of selected patrol vehicles ( PDA -based hand-held versions also exist) and is mainly used to control the license plate of parking cars.