Automatic License Plate Reader System Plays a Key Role in Criminal Investigations Across the Region, Making it a Safer Place

In Summary:

• The Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force (SEPARTF)–which serves the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan region–received a UASI grant to implement an automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system that would support public safety agencies throughout the region. They needed an expert partner to turn their ALPR vision into a reality and maximize their ALPR system investment.

• MCP acted as a program manager for the initiative and led deployment efforts for 130 ALPR tag-reading units throughout the region.

• More than 41 million tags are scanned annually, and numerous examples of how the PALPRN has played a role positively impacting key criminal investigations across the region.

Overview and Agency Challenge

In 2014, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force (SEPARTF)—which serves the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan region—received a UASI grant to implement an automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system that would support public safety agencies throughout the region. These systems typically cost upwards of $16K to procure, and install, per vehicle. And, to make an automatic license plate reader system successful, a number of ancillary factors must be consider including

• implementing servers, and securing and maintaining massive amounts of data
• data integration and analysis from numerous hotlists
• training of first responders and 911 telecommunicators on how to leverage the technology.

SEPARTF knew that in order to take advantage of the enormous upside offered by an ALPR system, they needed an expert partner to turn their vision into their reality and maximize the return on their automatic license plate system investment.

How Mission Critical Partners Helped

MCP acted as a program manager for the initiative and led the deployment efforts for approximately 130 ALPR tag-reading units throughout the region. Data from scanning more than 120,000 plates per day is stored on a CJIS-compliant cloud data center that adheres to various high-security standards and regulations.

To help SEPARTF scrub, store, disseminate and prioritize the data received from the ALPR system, MCP designed and deployed a sound data collection and maintenance process. A database was configured to house additional hot lists, which today delivers more than 6 million records daily. Law enforcement officials are alerted if a license plate read by the PALPRN matches any hot-list records, such as a vehicle involved in an AMBER or SILVER alert; a vehicle registered to a person affiliated with a terrorist group; or persons who’s vehicle registration has been suspended or revoked.

The Results

More than 41 million tags are scanned annually, and numerous examples of how the PALPRN has played a key role positively impacting key criminal investigations across the region can be cited. Since 2015, law enforcement has:

• Recovered more than $2.3M in value of stolen vehicles
• Detected and arrested more than 21 wanted criminals hiding in plain site
• Arrested four Megan’s law offenders

With MCP’s commitment and expertise, SEPARTF is able to operate a model ALPR program that makes the region a safer place by arming first responders with state-of-the-art technology that has played a transformative role in helping them carry out their mission.