Most law and parking enforcement agencies understand the many benefits that come from having an ALPR system in their jurisdictions—but oftentimes, community members may be skeptical. In an age where automation exists everywhere and "Big Brother is watching you" literally appears in online dictionaries, it's understandable that people would have concerns about such sophisticated technology. But the truth is: they don't need worry. 

This past week, Leonardo hosted an international training event at our Greensboro headquarters specifically for our customers who hail from around the world. In addition to providing an overview of our ELSAG ALPR technology and our law enforcement and public safety missions across the U.S., guests received training on the use and installation of a variety of ALPR solutions. In this hands-on training event, end-users learned how ALPR systems create efficiencies for law enforcement agencies using high-speed reading and processing of license plates.

An ALPR system's high speed cameras can do a lot of things very quickly. They can read hundreds of license plates per minute, capture contextual photos of vehicles, translate the image of a plate into alphanumeric characters, and ultimately aid in solving crimes and locating missing persons. Most systems can read plates day or night, in all types of weather conditions, and many manufacturers advertise they read plates from all 50 states in the U.S. and most foreign countries. 

As much as the team behind Leonardo’s ELSAG ALPR systems could tell you about the proven benefits of automatic license plate recognition, nothing compares to hearing from those who utilize the technology day in and day out.

So we recently checked in on the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office in Auburn, NY. Motivated by cost and time savings, as well as efficiency, the office acquired their first affixed ALPR systems in 2014 through grant funds.

Below are the collective responses of the office’s members who have vehicles equipped with an ALPR system. Take a look at their thoughts on the technology, how they’ve put it to work, and what they think is the nicest feature.

You have no doubt heard a lot about data in the news recently. Between massive data breaches, corporate accounts being hacked and cyber attacks, it is easy to see why people are concerned about just how their data is stored and who has access to it. 

At Leonardo, we value our customer's trust and are committed to protecting their interests. Our license plate recognition cameras and solutions collect data that enable you to reduce crime in your communities, provide evidence in investigations, alert you to speed violators and assist in locating missing persons and stolen property.

So, with all of that data being collected, how do you know it is safe?

Here are three things you should know if you currently use license plate readers or are thinking about using them in the future:

By Kay Dimanche, KOAT7 ABC

After years of research and development, we are proud to announce the release of two innovative technology solutions: the ELSAG Make,Type and Color Recognition software (MTC) and the ELSAG Cloud Storage Solution (ECSS).  

Both products are now available to ELSAG ALPR users.

 A deputy in Boone County Missouri was involved in a serious accident in December which caused his patrol car to roll several times. Thankfully, the deputy and the other driver were unhurt, according to David Alexander, operations analyst for the Boone County Sheriff's Office. 

Alexander was also surprised to find that the three ALPR cameras affixed to the roof of the patrol car were still fully functional after the wreck and will be reinstalled onto another vehicle this spring. 

An Arizona man who had been reported missing and endangered in Phoenix, Arizona, was located and rescued in Freeport, New York, last week thanks to the town’s fixed automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system.

As reported by Newsday.com, the man drove past part of the system that circles the village. The system alerted police that the man was reported missing and may be in need of assistance. Officer Robert Salisbury was able to locate the driver and get him the medical attention he needed.