License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology has become an essential tool for public safety. From solving interstate crime to identifying missing people, LPR gives law enforcement a powerful advantage in capturing vehicle data in real time.
But there is a hidden vulnerability in many LPR deployments: The Network.
When LPR systems rely solely on cloud storage, a single network outage can mean lost evidence and interrupted investigations. For public safety, that is not an option. The answer is a hybrid approach. This means local storage for resilience, paired with cloud services for intelligence.
Why LPR Matters for Public Safety?
Scientel has partnered with numerous municipalities and homeowner associations to increase public safety through LPR. The results are clear, showing a significant decrease in vehicle-related crimes where LPR cameras are deployed.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) has identified individuals involved in 82% of interstate shootings in 2024 using LPR data. In fatal shootings, the identification rate reached 100%. From January to May 2024, ISP took enforcement action in at least 260 investigative cases using LPR.
Cloud Storage
Local Storage
The Hybrid Model: Best of Both Worlds
Scientel has partnered with numerous municipalities and homeowner associations to increase public safety through LPR. The results are clear, showing a significant decrease in vehicle-related crimes where LPR cameras are deployed.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) has identified individuals involved in 82% of interstate shootings in 2024 using LPR data. In fatal shootings, the identification rate reached 100%. From January to May 2024, ISP took enforcement action in at least 260 investigative cases using LPR.
Local storage alone is not enough. Cloud services offer critical capabilities that local systems cannot replicate.
- Local storage handles continuous, high-resolution recording and provides instant access for investigations, even during network outages
- Cloud services enable real-time alerts, hotlist matching, off-site backup of critical events, and remote system health monitoring
- Inter-agency data sharing through platforms like Vigilant’s LEARN database helps agencies close cases faster across city, county, and state line
LPR in Action
Scientel has seen a significant increase in LPR adoption across public safety and enterprise settings. Casinos, property management companies, traffic control organizations, schools, and municipalities have all implemented LPR as both a safety protocol and an operational tool.
Vigilant’s LEARN database has been particularly valuable for law enforcement, enabling data sharing across agencies. Images captured by LPR cameras can be stored, retained, and transferred between municipalities to aid investigators that span multiple cities, counties, or states.
Vigilant hardware from Motorola has been a reliable source for ISP, cutting crime and repurposing valuable police time. The LQ6, a small solar powered camera, allows for rapid deployment in almost any location.
Conclusion
LPR is saving lives, solving crimes, and making communities safer.
Hybrid by design ensures LPR systems keep working when it matters most. For any public safety agency considering LPR, the question is not whether the solution is effective, it is how to leverage both local and cloud storage for optimal results.
Additional information on the benefits of adding LPR cameras to your security infrastructure can be found at, Scientel: LPR Solutions.