Automatic Number Plate Recognition

LSainsbury · 19-01-2006, 13:43

Just seen this on El Reg, which got me wondering...

You go to a garage to fill up and you spot the Automatic Number Plate Recognition sign....so - how exactly does this system work??

**Derek** · 19-01-2006, 13:49

The camera just reads the numberplate and figures out what the letters/numbers are like OCR software in a scanner.

Expect to see a crackdown on the amount of non-standard number plates and plates obscured with mud etc.

After the numberplate is read I'd imagine it would just go into a large database which can be searched by the police.
It would be interesting to see if this database flagged up duplicates in places that they cannot possibly have got to in order to cut down on car cloning.

basa · 19-01-2006, 13:54

Basically it videos vehicles with a camera and a PC 'reads' the number plate and checks with the police national computer and DVLC databases if it is 'of interest'.

The images can be stored on a HDD.

Links here & here.

skyblueheroes · 19-01-2006, 13:56

The police already use them. They were out in force last night with one in the back of an unmarked van.

It recognises the number plate and within a few hundred yards it knows if that car has insurance, has been reported stolen and is taxed etc.....

basa · 19-01-2006, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyblueheroes

The police already use them. They were out in force last night with one in the back of an unmarked van......

They've been installed on approach roads to Manchester Airport (and many other places) for years. I know because I give the necessary permissions for their installation on Airport property.

The police can input the reg of a car they want to trace and if one sees it it flags an alert in police control rooms.

(This IS the Big Brother thread isn't it

)

marky · 19-01-2006, 14:06

For the Insurance part i agree, but there will be a database of where your car was and when.
I have visions of criminals using false plates in crimes, then an innocent person trying to say it wasnt there car.

**Derek** · 19-01-2006, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by marky

I have visions of criminals using false plates in crimes, then an innocent person trying to say it wasnt there car.

You already get that with speed cameras and the like where people get fines when they are no-where near the camera as someone has 'borrowed' their cars numberplate and put it onto a similar make and model.

marky · 19-01-2006, 14:16

True, i think i'll shut up until my brain is in gear

Nugget · 19-01-2006, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by marky

True, i think i'll shut up until my brain is in gear

Now marky, you know that that could take a while, don't you?

basa · 19-01-2006, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by marky

..........but there will be a database of where your car was and when.

Only if it is 'of interest' to the authorities. There is way too much info going through these ANPR systems to store it all.

Nugget · 19-01-2006, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by basa

Only if it is 'of interest' to the authorities. There is way too much info going through these ANPR systems to store it all.

Actually, there's supposed to ANPR in use on the M180 while they're re-surfacing the road outside Scunthorpe. There's going to be a 50mph speed limit, with the cameras at each end - apparently, the cameras will automatically 'time' the traffic, and anything that does the distance faster than the 'norm' will have its details automatically sent for fines etc.

Having said that, it was meant to start on Monday and they're still not up, so who knows

basa · 19-01-2006, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nugget

Actually, there's supposed to ANPR in use on the M180 while they're re-surfacing the road outside Scunthorpe. There's going to be a 50mph speed limit, with the cameras at each end - apparently, the cameras will automatically 'time' the traffic, and anything that does the distance faster than the 'norm' will have its details automatically sent for fines etc.

Having said that, it was meant to start on Monday and they're still not up, so who knows

Don't think that's the same system m8, speed cameras are activated by a vehicle traversing a set distance in less than a specified time. It then takes a mug shot and when the piccies are assessed an auto fine sent.

ANPR is different in that they are linked to OCR PCs and the reg nos checked against police and DVLC databases for vehicles marked of interest.

Have a look at my links above. The ANPR cameras are different to speed cameras. They are very similar to the usual town centre surveillance cameras you see everywhere.

**Derek** · 19-01-2006, 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by basa

Don't think that's the same system m8, speed cameras are activated by a vehicle traversing a set distance in less than a specified time. It then takes a mug shot and when the piccies are assessed an auto fine sent..

Nope thats the SPEC's system

http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/SPECS.htm
http://www.abd.org.uk/specs.htm

AKA The yellow vultures. They popped them up on a stretch of road in Ayrshire a while back and now they are complaining that drivers are going too slowly and causing tailbacks.

Nothing to do with the level of fines not being what they were expecting, honest

marky · 19-01-2006, 15:11

The system Mr Nug refers to, reads your plate at the begining of a stretch of road, then another does it at the end of the road, the computer then works out your average speed over the whole length of the road.

Edit> Beaten again

Pierre · 19-01-2006, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezzo

Nope that the SPEC's system

http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/SPECS.htm
http://www.abd.org.uk/specs.htm

AKA The yellow vultures. They popped them up on a stretch of road in Ayrshire a while back and now they are complaining that drivers are going too slowly and causing tailbacks.

Nothing to do with the level of fines not being what they were expecting, honest

Front facing cameras like Specs and the Truvelo.

I just blast through them on my bike with one finger up.