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Tech Helps Cops Bust Motorists
Motorola's license-plate recognition technology will help police quickly get info on vehicles located near their squad cars.
December 1, 2005

Police cars could automatically scan nearby vehicles’ license plates with a technology that Motorola and PIPS Technology launched Thursday, saving cops from currently having to type in a license plate number to search databases.

The Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology uses a camera to automatically read license plates as they come into view, and then checks the plates against police and motor vehicle databases.

The new system is quicker and requires no action on the part of the police officer, said Steve Most, multimedia business director for Motorola’s radio systems division.

“The ALPR system gives public safety officers quick access to information about the vehicles around them,” he said. “This helps increase their security and safety, as well as that of the general driving population.”

Cellular company Motorola developed the technology and worked with PIPS Technology, a license plate recognition technology firm, to “ruggedize” the cameras so that they meet Motorola’s specifications for public safety communications in the United States.

The Pennsylvania State Police tested the system in October. According to Motorola, the system helped nab wanted suspects in its first week of testing.

When a state trooper stopped a speeding car on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the ALPR system revealed that the vehicle was stolen and the trooper was able to call for backup before approaching the car. Another check revealed that the occupants were wanted in connection with a kidnapping and attempted murder case.
ALPR is one of a number of vehicle technologies being developed to help law enforcement.

High-tech Crime Fighting
Technology giant 3M, the maker of brands like Scotch and Post-It, plans to launch a system to check vehicle registration this month (see Tech Busts Unregistered Cars).

The system incorporates Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags in stickers that would go on a vehicle’s windshield as well as in reflective sheeting placed over the license plate.

As vehicles drive past sensors, the 3M tags would send vehicle registration and insurance information as well as data about inspection compliance, such as overdue smog checks, to a database. Automatic notices could be sent to the vehicle owners.
Eventually, the 3M tags could be used for open-road tolling, stolen vehicle detection, and even parking garage payments, said Jaime Ojeda, business manager of electronic vehicle registration.

Wi-Fi for Cars

Automakers are also testing Wi-Fi for cars, a technology called Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC). U.S. car makers are mainly targeting DSRC for safety applications like collision avoidance, but the technology could one day be used for law enforcement (see Wi-Fi May Make Cars Smarter).

A number of auto manufacturers, including DaimlerChrysler, have said the information will be completely anonymous and will not help anyone track specific vehicles.

“It will tell you that a car is driving 50 [mph] on the highway, but it won’t say that it’s Joe’s car,” said Christopher Wilson, head of intelligent transportation systems for DaimlerChrysler’s North American research arm.

But privacy concerns are still a major issue as some drivers are concerned that the cars would transmit speed and other driving info. One example: New York City cab drivers are opposing plans to install GPS (global positioning systems) in their taxis.
Other businesses are capitalizing on drivers’ fears. A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based company, PhotoBlocker, makes reflective license-plate shields and sprays to deflect the flash from red-light cameras, for instance.

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