PlateRanger™
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PlateRanger powered by Rekor?
PlateRanger is an advanced vehicle and license plate recognition (LPR) technology that can quickly uncover investigative leads for vehicle-related crimes. It leverages NVIDIA-powered AI software and advanced high-definition cameras to capture vehicle information and connect criminal vehicle associations through advanced analytics, streamlining the investigative process. Over the last 25 years, Rekor has perfected the PlateRanger ALPR solution.
How does PlateRanger differ from the core Rekor system?
While PlateRanger is built on Rekor’s advanced LPR technology, it is part of SoundThinking’s SafetySmart Platform and can be used alone or integrated with ShotSpotter and CrimeTracer solutions to provide a comprehensive crime investigation platform.
For example, when ShotSpotter detects a gunshot, the system can quickly identify vehicles near the incident, providing investigative leads or even alerting on suspected vehicles with criminal history at the time of the gunfire and quickly providing critical information that may lead to apprehension and conviction.
In addition, the integration with CrimeTracer and PlateRanger allows investigators to seamlessly search the license plate for known associations across more than a billion CJIS records and public source data. Using CrimeTracer, or Google for Cops, adds the ability to link vehicles across a national database, providing an investigative force multiplier.
Can PlateRanger integrate with existing LPR cameras installed by other vendors?
Yes, PlateRanger can ingest LPR data from other cameras through an API, allowing agencies to add PlateRanger cameras to existing LPR solutions to expand and enhance coverage.
Accepting data from other cameras lets users to view the combined PlateRanger data in one location. With the CrimeTracer integration, PlateRanger customers can query vehicle information across billions of records to find investigative leads quickly.
What data retention policies and privacy protections does PlateRanger enforce?
SoundThinking’s PlateRanger system collects and manages vehicle data, including license plate numbers, images, and related information to support criminal investigations. The company maintains strict control over data, including AES-256 encryption, use controls and storage policies, retaining plate read data for up to 30 days, after which it’s securely deleted or anonymized. SoundThinking does not share this data without explicit agency approval or sell it for commercial purposes. The company implements robust security measures to safeguard user privacy and complies with relevant data protection laws, such as CJIS and others, balancing public safety needs and individual privacy concerns.
How does PlateRanger compare in price to other LPR systems?
PlateRanger offers competitive pricing and delivers exceptional value through its advanced features and superior performance, making PlateRanger a cost-effective choice for LPR. PlateRanger cameras can bolster your existing LPR plan, adding cameras where needed and providing an easy-to-use application, or provide a feature-rich and industry-leading accuracy LPR solution to your repour of law enforcement solutions. PlateRanger also offers the Rekor Blue mobile app, allowing mobile devices equipped with a camera to be used as license plate readers. PlateRanger LPRs include hosting and cellular for each device, making it a complete solution.
How do ShotSpotter and PlateRanger compare to Flock Safety’s LPR and gunshot detection solution?
Rekor is a leader in developing and implementing state-of-the-art roadway intelligence technology, with IPVM, a leading independent authority on physical security technology, recognizing this status.
ShotSpotter is recognized as a leader in the gunshot detection category. Pioneered over 25 years ago using a propriety AI algorithm, ShotSpotter is successfully deployed in more than 170 cities. ShotSpotter ensures accuracy and provides independently reviewed alerts. It includes video of the location and incident and is admissible in court as part of case evidence. ShotSpotter ultimately helps police officers save lives and collect critical evidence for investigations.
By integrating PlateRanger and ShotSpotter, we deliver industry-leading technologies designed to empower law enforcement with rapid and precise gunshot detection, seamlessly paired with automated and intelligent LPR integrations to jumpstart investigations.
How accurate and reliable is PlateRanger compared to other LPR systems?
PlateRanger, powered by Rekor’s leading LPR technology, delivers industry-best read performance and high reliability. Utilizing AI edge processing, it provides exceptionally fast and accurate license plate recognition, ensuring reliable investigative leads for vehicle-related crimes. The solution delivers industry-leading plate detection with 99% accuracy, ensuring that no criminal goes unnoticed.
Can PlateRanger integrate with national and state ‘Hot Vehicle’ Lists, such as NCIC, Amber, Silver, and HIDTA?
Yes, PlateRanger can integrate with state and national systems to automatically receive the latest wanted vehicle lists. Additionally, agencies can share agency-specific hot lists and other custom alerts.
How can PlateRanger be used in investigations, and what impact does it have?
PlateRanger helps law enforcement quickly identify and track vehicles associated with criminal investigations. For example, PlateRanger can analyze criminal vehicle movement patterns, including vehicles that frequently travel together, cross-reference data with known criminal associations, and provide immediate investigative leads. This tool significantly speeds up investigations, helping officers connect the dots faster and respond more effectively, ultimately leading to safer communities. And with the valuable Rekor Blue mobile app that can be used on any mobile device with a camera, officers can quickly scan vehicles near a crime scene, checking hot lists, wanted vehicles, and other alerts, enhancing officer safety while searching for associated vehicles.
What kind of crimes might PlateRanger help solve?
PlateRanger is a versatile tool suitable for a wide range of investigations, particularly as over 80% of crimes involve vehicles. It is commonly used to track stolen vehicles, identify suspects in homicides, armed robberies, and other felonies, locate vehicles tied to trafficking, and assist in missing person cases involving a vehicle.
PlateRanger provides a robust solution for quickly searching by plate, partial plate, or vehicle characteristics or performing aggregate analytics. It’s an essential tool for any investigation where criminal vehicle movement or identification is critical, providing law enforcement with a consolidated list to make their investigations efficient and effective.
How reliable is PlateRanger in different environments or weather conditions?
PlateRanger is built to perform accurately across various environments and weather conditions, using advanced AI and robust camera technology to ensure reliability. PlateRanger leverages AI edge processing powered by NVIDA. Rather than taking a single image to determine vehicle/plate, the system leverages video streams along with 100s of pictures per vehicle to determine vehicle/plate data using proprietary AI built on over 25 years of knowledge. Whether it’s low light, rain, or complex settings, PlateRanger ensures consistent, dependable results.