ALPR for Lakeland

Automated License Plate Recognition (A.L.P.R.) is software available to law enforcement agencies, which reads vehicle license plates and checks them against a database. The database is loaded with license plate numbers of vehicles reported as:

• Stolen vehicles
• Uninsured vehicles
• Unlicensed drivers
• Uninsured drivers

When the software finds a match, an alarm is sounded, alerting the officer to investigate. The computer screen displays a photograph of the vehicle, the license plate, how the camera read the license plate number, the vehicle owner's information, and why the number is in the database.

The video below is a Canadian officer providing a demonstration of the system. Please take a moment to see how it works.




Everyone has their own opinions about "Big Brother" and I respect their opinions. To a point. I have a friend who is literally paranoid when it comes to "Big Brother". But that's another story.

Sure, I agree that there can be a fine line between protecting the community and invasion of privacy. However, I must argue that if you're not doing anything illegal, why should you be worried? I don't think "America, the Land of the Free" was intended to mean "where you can break the law and get away with it".

Traffic cameras are an excellent example. They take a photograph IF you run a red light. They're not 24 hour video cameras recording every single second of the day. They're not there to catch you picking your nose. Yes, it's true that they are making the city, county and/or state money that they probably wouldn't have made otherwise. However, I can tell you from personal experience that I am much more attentive to red lights than I was before, just because I know the cameras are there. I can't afford a traffic citation for anything right now; it's just not in my budget. So, I am a more cautious driver as a result. The cameras only reinforce that need for caution. Where's the crime in making drivers more attentive?

The ALPR system sounds like a wonderful tool to me and I hope Lakeland Police will be able to purchase it. I would feel safer knowing they had this software available to them. All I have to do is make sure I keep my insurance paid and keep my license valid and there's no invasion of my privacy. After all, the only records they're going to be searching are the plate numbers that need to be searched. I'm all for it. Where do I sign up for a fundraiser to help pay for it?