Implementation of license plate reader (LPR) technology at strategic locations in the city to enhance traffic and public safety.

License plate recognition (LPR) technology is one of several ways the City maximizes its effectiveness and efficiency in protecting Tallahassee’s roadways, property, and most importantly, its residents. Through automated image processing, an LPR system can read, identify, compare, and store images of license plate numbers within seconds. LPR technology was invented in the United Kingdom in 1976 and remains a commonly used best practice in law enforcement today.

An LPR system provides officers with access to real-time information that advances leads and evidence in time-sensitive investigations. These high-tech devices are used to quickly recover stolen vehicles, enforce traffic laws, gather criminal intelligence, and locate potential suspects. They are also helpful in identifying probable cause against homicide and attempted homicide cases as well as finding missing persons associated with Amber and Silver alerts.

In 2022, the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) was awarded a Project Safe Neighborhood grant in the amount of $121,510 to enhance investigations of persons and organizations involved in violent crimes, firearm offenses, and drug trafficking. A portion of the grant is funding the purchase of license plate readers that will be placed in locations identified through data analysis as hot-spot areas. Staff projects that the additional LPR technology units will continue to assist in reducing motor vehicle theft and in detecting other types of crime.

LPR technology is currently utilized by all law enforcement agencies in the Tallahassee area, including the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Florida State University’s Parking Enforcement, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s Parking Enforcement. Data obtained across these LPR systems are shared among local law enforcement partners, including TPD. This enhances Tallahassee’s ability to take a regional, proactive approach to early issue detection and intervention. In collecting and accessing LPR data, the City ensures that TPD’s policies and procedures adheres to state and national accreditation standards. The implementation and deployment of LPR technology throughout our City has been instrumental in solving open investigations and will continue to help prevent crime in our community.

Tallahassee Police Department. Last Updated: August 2022.