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LPR VIDEO: License recognition system hits streets

License recognition system hits streets

WAVY- TV10

October 1, 2009

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Portsmouth police have begun testing a license plate recognition system in an effort to recover stolen vehicles.

Nicknamed "PARMIS", or Portsmouth Auto Recovery and Mobile Imaging System, the device consists of a camera and on-board computer processor installed in specific police cars. The system keeps an updated list of stolen license plates from Canada, Mexico and the United States. As the PARMIS-equipped police car roams the streets, the license plates captured by the camera are compared to the stolen list, and will then alert the operator to possible matches.

In all, three marked Portsmouth police cars will have PARMIS on board. On Wednesday, the first of the three hit the streets. A representative of the systems' maker, ELSAG North America , went along for the test.

During the test drive more than 500 license plates were recorded, and in just 30 minutes police were notified of a possible stolen vehicle. Officers verified the car was linked to a carjacking and they arrested the driver, who had outstanding warrants for carjacking and assault.

Portsmouth police say the PARMIS-cars will be deployed on a regular basis beginning next week.

The system was made possible by a grant from the Department of Criminal Justice Services.