Thinking about speeding or running a red light? Well maybe you should think again. Modern surveillance systems are making it more difficult to break the law. The Automatic License Plates Recognition System has made its debut in 2006 and more and more municipalities are switching over to this newer equipment system.
These new systems also called automatic vehicle recognition, car plate recognition, license plate recognition and Lecture Automatique de Plaques d'Immatriculation can scan a license plate every second on cars that are whizzing by at up to 100 miles an hour. These new systems use optical character recognition, to translate the characters, and images of the license plates by using a scanner and then recording it onto an editing device to be recognized by the traffic authority. These new surveillance systems can also use pre-existing technology such as hidden cameras or close circuit television or surveillance systems specifically designed for the road traffic. So much for the thrill of the chase that some people seem to get when they can outsmart the traffic police. Their fun days are over.
Besides determining and capturing the license plates of the speeders or traffic light violators these systems are also used on roads that require a toll to travel. It will definitely put more money into the coffers of the municipalities who use them.
Does the system only detect images and text on a license plate?
Guess what folks some are programmable to distinguish the faces of the driver. Smile your own candid camera.
Can you escape big brother at night?
Think again, the systems uses infrared lighting so that they will be able to snuff you out any time of the day or night. Some systems will flash to let you know that you have just committed a traffic violation.
How long has these systems been out?
The earliest surveillance systems originated in the UK by the Police Scientific Development Branch, the first working models monitored the roads in 1979. Since then the systems have been upgraded and new technology is continually refining them.
However, it is interesting to note that writers of science fiction have thought of this technology long before the 1970's. Robert Heinlein wrote about traffic control cameras in 1941 in his book, Methuselah's Children.
Are they effective?
The earlier stationary models had problems to work out no doubt, what new system doesn't. A very interesting story I found on the net had to do with a quick witted driver that had a wire device that he would use to change his front license plate whenever he passed through a camera surveyed zone on the 401 (Trans Canada Highway).
With the newest technology out today we learn that the original models have been scaled down to portable size and police cruisers can store them in their vehicles while going about their daily work. This means that they can catch the offender immediately on the road without waiting for stationary print out and then having to trace the license plate back to the driver. The mobile models are also more cost efficient because they are smaller.
Some of these newer mobile systems are being employed more and more around the world. In British Columbia, Canada they are starting to use these mobiles surveillance systems equipped with an audio system that sounds off when a license plate is detected for a car on the “hot list.”
There are problems though; the mobile readers must be fast enough to catch a car speeding at 100 miles another. They must also be able to produce a clean image and text in inclement weather, and at any time of the day or night. The positioning angle of the camera to license plate and the systems own wavelengths must be able to bring in a clear resolution to make the readout viable.
These highway patrol surveillance units must also be able to simultaneously survey multiple lanes at a time. Some systems are now equipped with multiple cameras to be able to solve that issue effectively.
Other problems that needed to be solved
The ability to read parked car licenses plates squeezed into the most crowded conditions, and licenses plates on the back of cars in oncoming traffic, needed some tweaking, but believe it or not the back licenses plates issue can be solved just by turning the camera around!
Besides resolution issues and blurry images, these automatic number plate recognition systems are not able to read license plates that are partially hidden from view, e.g. part of a plate hidden by a tree or other obstacle, like a towbar, on a car or bicycle rake can obscure a bike license plate.
Another thing is that when dealing with foreign and domestic vehicles on the road, two countries can issue the same license plate number, only the coloring on the plates would be different.
Other uses for these surveillance systems
Tracking traffic patterns
Border patrol
Airport security
Government security bases
Tracking devices for gas stations when drivers speed off without paying.
Drive through recognition for companies and organizations so that they can recognize their patrons and offer them the best customer service (hmmm on this one).
Are there any benefits for citizens?
Well the roads would be safer, less speeders, and traffic violations. And another benefit is that these tracking devices can actually find car thieves. The first arrest of a stolen car on the road was made in 1981.
Concerns
The main concern is privacy, many people wonder if the government is exercising too much control over the habits of private citizens. The media has gotten on the bandwagon and reported errors and mistaken identity. The governments using these systems state that they are pretty accurate and proven to be a good tracking devise.
Bottom line
What will governments do with all the detailed information regarding the comings and goings of its citizens? Yes it can become a scary “big brother is watching you” world.
Many citizens around the world feel that these systems do not promote safety but are just additional revenue devise for the city or state. In fact Stockholm, Sweden imposes a tax on drivers who enter and exist the inner city limits. The concern then becomes for Americans and citizens of other countries currently using these vehicle plate readers, how far will the government take it?
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_number_plate_recognition
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=938
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