LICENSE PLATE & VEHICLE RECOGNITION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
How Can Your Agency Identify Vehicle Leads to Accelerate Investigations?
PlateRanger is built for law enforcement to solve cases faster and protect communities—securely and compliantly
Full Compliance Stack
Full Compliance Stack
Common Approaches to Identifying Suspect Vehicles

Manual Identification
Law enforcement agencies that don’t use technology for identifying license plates typically rely on witnesses, on-scene information, and patrol officers who perform manual traffic stops.

License Plate Recognition (LPR)
License plate recognition systems use a combination of cameras and software to capture license plates and vehicle information automatically.
Choosing the right LPR system is critical for ensuring public safety and operational efficiency. Here are key factors to keep in mind.
Reliable, Trusted Results
Manual license plate identification can slow investigations, increase costs, and introduce human error—leading agencies to chase unreliable leads instead of actionable intelligence.
Plate Accuracy & Partial Plate Recognition
Not all LPR systems reliably capture plates in low-light conditions, bad weather, or at high speeds. Some also lack the ability to recognize and match partial plates, limiting their effectiveness in investigations.
Video Evidence for Investigations
Capturing video alongside plate reads provides crucial investigative context. However, not all LPR systems offer automated video capture, potentially leaving agencies without critical evidence.
Open API for Seamless Integration
PlateRanger's open API keeps vehicle intelligence flowing across your RTCC and critical public safety platforms — no silos, no gaps.
Data Security
Law enforcement expects their LPR system to protect sensitive data, meet CJIS requirements, maintain a clear chain of custody, and maintain security, data control and compliance.
Collect What Matters. Clear What Doesn't.
Patented incident-based retention stores only vehicles tied to hotlists. Unrelated reads are cleared following agency retention policies — balancing investigative needs with community privacy.
Accurate License Plate Reads When Conditions Aren't Ideal
PlateRanger’s combination of high-definition cameras and AI models allow the system to accurately capture license plate and vehicle information at night, in low light, during severe weather, and even at speeds up to 70 miles per hour.
Search and Identify Vehicles with Partial Data
PlateRanger allows you to search for vehicles even with only partial plates or details such as make, model, and color. You can also get alerts when possible matches are detected.
Get Video of Every License Plate Capture
PlateRanger automatically captures high-quality video clips for every detected license plate, maintaining exceptional accuracy and clarity even in challenging nighttime conditions through patented technology.
On the Devices Officers Already Use
Officers get instant, actionable vehicle and plate data — right on the devices they already use:
- Smartphones/Tablets → Rekor Blue mobile app
- Existing IP / ONFIV Cameras → via PlateRanger Agent
- Desktop & MDT → PlateRanger dashboard
- Third-party LPR Cameras → via API integrations
Security and Compliance
PlateRanger allows agencies to control their LPR data. PlateRanger is SOC 2 and CJIS-compliant, with AES-256 encryption, and fully supported hardware and software environments that are actively, and regularly patched for security.
24/7 Support from Law Enforcement Pros
PlateRanger offers support from experts with law enforcement backgrounds at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year.
See How PlateRanger Can Help Your Agency with Smarter Intelligence
PlateRanger’s unique combination of high-definition cameras, app technology, and real-time alerts give law enforcement a leg up in any investigations involving vehicles.
Here’s what you can expect after filling out the form:
1
An expert on our team will respond within one business day.
2
We will schedule a quick call to understand your LPR needs.
3
We will give you a custom demo designed for your agency.
PlateRanger FAQs
PlateRanger™
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PlateRanger is a versatile tool suitable for a wide range of investigations, particularly as over 75% 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.
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 NVIDIA. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PlateRanger is a versatile tool suitable for a wide range of investigations, particularly as over 75% 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.
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 NVIDIA. 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.