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New Software Allows You to Scan License Plates Just like a Cop

We are sure you’ve asked yourself many times how come the police knows all about your car without even looking at you. Well, it is possible thanks to a software installed on most police cars equipped with video cameras. Now, a similar software developed by OpenALPR is available for you to download freely and use to find out in an instant everything about everyone just by filming their license plates.
OpenALPR software screenshot 1 photo
Photo: Tag Eng Hwa/OpenALPR
It might sound complicated, but actually it isn’t. All you need is an IP-enabled security camera mounted facing a street, and you will be able to see who passed by your house or office even when you are not there.

The LPR cameras are not something new. They have been around for years now, mounted on police cars or in fixed locations. They can scan around 60 passing license plates per second, using optical character recognition technology, telling you right away if everything is in order with that car. The data can be then stored for months or even years.

The creators of this software spent six months to develop it and they are now giving it for free mostly to draw attention to their other paid services.

According to OpenALPR, this new watching program works on every camera that supports MJPEG streams, including those with visible-light or infrared systems. The only thing is that the clarity of the video stream depends on the camera and what optics it uses. For a top-notch clarity you need top-notch cameras, obviously.

Matt Hill, OpenALRP founder, has said that currently only the Government uses LPR. Since this isn’t quite ideal, offering this software for free might be a good way to make things even.

But just like any other electrical device or software, the LPR had some bugs along the way. In some cases, police owned-systems misread some number plates which led to unwanted situations, according to Ars Technica.

Things are getting better because this watching-everybody thing is fully legal. A number plate is not something private and it can be seen by everyone when you are driving on a public street. Privacy advocates state that there’s nothing you can do against someone who uses this software because they want to know who is crossing in front of their home.

As much as you would think this business would get you a lot of money, Hill says that his company won't be getting rich immediately, although a lot of small businesses have already showed their interest in this technology for their perimeter security.
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