Illustration of what license plate readers capture

Working with the Department of Homeland Security, Wayne County, Michigan, law enforcement officers posed as kids on a website where seven men—including a Wyandotte school teacher—thought they were setting up underage sexual encounters. But as each would-be predator made his way to meet the child, Taylor, Michigan, police used Flock Safety cameras/license plate readers (LPRs) to track the men and arrest them as they entered the city (five miles southwest of Detroit). Flock Safety traffic cameras log LPR data (including the vehicle’s make and model) for 30 days, and the information can be shared with law enforcement across the nation.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has begun using a new operating system allowing Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology to be connected to AMBER Alert activations. NCMEC’s joint effort with Flock Safety will use the company’s machine-learning powered network to help law enforcement to find vehicles wanted during an alert.