全球智库信息集成服务系统

License plate reader (LPR) systems, while initially used to detect stolen vehicles and plates, are increasingly being tapped for a variety of investigations.

• Authorities can retrieve LPR data to determine vehicles in the vicinity of a crime scene.
• The system can provide photos of those vehicles to confirm suspect alibis.
• LPR data can be used to analyze crime patterns.

Many privacy advocates have challenged the practice of storing LPR data not associated with a specific crime.

• Some police departments lack clear guidance on storing plate data, leaving privacy advocates to fear it can be kept and retrieved indefinitely.
• Some privacy advocates, departments, and lawmakers have moved to codify police procedures on recording these data; some have banned the technology's use outright.

LPR systems can be beneficial in providing assistance in any type of investigation, provided the necessary data are available to support the systems.

• Systems with the most database access and longest retention policies are the most beneficial because they can provide the greatest number of alerts and the ability to retrieve LPR data over time across law enforcement activities.
• System maintenance and data storage can increase cost. If an agency's database can be made part of existing information technology infrastructure, its maintenance costs can be lessened.

Law enforcement agencies across the country have quickly been adopting a new technology to combat auto theft and other crimes: automated license plate reader (LPR) systems. These systems can capture the image of the license plate of a passing vehicle and compare the plate number against official "hotlists" that show an array of infractions or reasons why it may be of interest to authorities. But because LPR technology is relatively new in the United States, opportunities and obstacles in its use in law enforcement are still under exploration. To examine issues about this technology, RAND conducted interviews with law enforcement officers and others responsible for procuring, maintaining, and operating the systems. Champions of LPR technology exist at many levels, from tech-savvy officers who use it every day, to chiefs who promote it, to other officials and policymakers who believe LPR technology is a significant force multiplier for police departments. Challenges exist, however, to realizing more widespread acceptance and use of the technology. Chief among these are privacy concerns related to the retention and potential misuse of LPR data, technical and bureaucratic impediments to sharing data among law enforcement agencies, and constraints on the availability of staffing and training needed to support LPR systems.

• Chapter One

  Introduction

• Chapter Two

  Framing the LPR Environment

• Chapter Three

  Methodology

• Chapter Four

  LPR Uses in Different Operational Environments

• Chapter Five

  The Legal Aspect of LPR Privacy Concerns

• Chapter Six

  Common Themes and Challenges in LPR Use

• Chapter Seven

  Agency Lessons Learned

• Chapter Eight

  Conclusions

• Appendix A

  Case Study Summaries

• Appendix B

  Interview Protocol