DATE: April 2, 2007
FROM: PATRICK E. MAXWELL, CAPTAIN TO: ALL PERSONNEL
NORWALK STATION NORWALK STATION
SUBJECT: MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE 07-01; AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION SYSTEM (ALPR)
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Unit Order is to define policy and procedures for the use of the Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system.
BACKGROUND
ALPR cameras automatically take a photograph of license plates and simultaneously check the license plate numbers with data downloaded from CLETS. The ALPR system alerts deputies to any Felony Vehicle, Stolen Vehicle, or Wanted Vehicle. When the system gets a hit on a vehicle, it will display a color photograph of the vehicle, a close up photograph of the license plate, and a brief explanation for the hit on the Mobile Digital Computer (MDC).
Since the data in the ALPR system is only downloaded periodically (i.e., once every 24 hours), the data may not be up-to-date and the subject vehicle may not have the correct status with the ALPR system. For example, the system may have alerted on a stolen car, but the car may have been recovered and taken out of SVS two hours prior. The ALPR will not have the updated information and therefore, will still be showing the vehicle as being stolen.
DIRECTIVE
Upon receiving an alert from the ALPR system, deputies shall immediately confirm the status of the vehicle by running the license plate either via the MDC or SCC. When requesting SCC to confirm the status of an ALPR-hit vehicle, the deputy must advise SCC the request is for an ALPR-hit vehicle. The fact a deputy is requesting SCC to check the status of an “ALPR-hit vehicle” will alert SCC to treat the request as a priority over any other routine clearance requests. Deputies may treat all vehicles with an ALPR alert, as a known stolen vehicle, pending confirmation.
If a vehicle with an ALPR-hit is being driven normally, deputy personnel shall confirm the status of the vehicle via the MDC or SCC prior to taking any police action. If the deputy requests SCC to confirm the status of the vehicle, then the deputy shall make the request as follows: “10-34 for an ALPR plate.”
If the status of the vehicle returns as a confirmed wanted or stolen vehicle, the handling deputy shall follow the procedures for conducting a Code-9 and Pre-Stop Coordination as described in Newsletter #115, 1996.
If a pursuit is initatiated on an ALPR-hit vehicle, the deputy shall immediately request SCC to confirm the status of the vehicle by alerting SCC the request is for an ALPR-hit vehicle. Pending confirmation on the status of the vehicle, deputy personnel shall adhere to the department’s pursuit policy as described in the Manual of Policy and Precedures section 5-09/201.02.
Deputies shall notify the program administrator of all in-custody arrests and recoveries for tracking purposes prior to the end of their shift. A message via e-mail may be sent listing the location of the recovery, file number, and suspect information.
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