Where is Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Use Exploding?

The use of technology by government and law enforcement agencies is growing at a fairly significant rate. As we previously researched and reported in ‘State & Local Law Enforcement Agencies Grappling With the Purchase of Body Worn Cameras’ and ‘Parking Going Tech’, the technology applications being sought and implemented are varied. We have been tracking the rising growth in the demand for Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems/solutions.

In general, ALPR systems can include fixed closed circuit televisions (CCTV), mobile cameras, or a customized camera/video solution. The enterprise-level surveillance system uses optical character recognition (OCR) technology to read, analyze, and record the vehicle’s license plate data.

Just a few examples of the justification for these systems: cost savings, revenue collection, information gathering/sharing, as an aid in investigations, etc…

This isn’t some new wave technology, witness the number of agencies that have been using some form of ALPR technology for many years. Now, additional agencies are convinced of the benefits in enforcement.

At BidPrime, we aren’t the only people taking a look at what’s going on in the ALPR world. On January 23rd, 2015, Government Technology published an article, ‘How are Police Departments Using License Plate Reader Data?’. What does the future look like for ALPR systems/solutions? As noted in this piece, “If you were to close your eyes and throw a dart at a map,…chances are you would hit a jurisdiction that is considering LPR if they don’t already have it.”

Of the 74 RFP and bid requests published in the past 12 months by government and law enforcement agencies, 43 of them have been submitted in the past six months. It’s worth repeating that ALPR isn’t solely a law enforcement technology. The RFP and bid requests are also coming from municipal, city, county, state, and federal agencies.

The Rincon Police Department is just one example of a law enforcement organization having success with ALPR solutions.

Clearly, it isn’t just law enforcement agencies using ALPR systems, as seen in this example of an airport putting ALPR technology to use.

Sample Active Bids/RFPs

Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR)

For more information on ALPR bid requests / RFPs, and associated documents, call us at 888.808.5356, or visit BidPrime.