MARCO ISLAND

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Policy Title
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION SYSTEM 7-13

Effective Date Revision Date Re-evaluation Date

04-15-2021 04-15-2022
Accreditation Standards
N/A
________________________________________________________________________________
BY THE ORDER OF
CHIEF TRACY FRAZZANO
________________________________________________________________________________
References
FSS 316.0777, 316.0778
________________________________________________________________________________________

PURPOSE

The purpose of this general order is to establish guidelines for Marco Island Police Department
(MIPD) employees on the use of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems, also known
as license plate reader systems to include their functionality, response to automated alerts, use of
historical data for investigations, data storage, retention, and the protection of privacy.
POLICY

It is the policy of the MIPD to utilize ALPR Camera Systems for official law enforcement purposes in a
safe and professional manner. Personnel utilizing and maintaining ALPR equipment will be trained to
preserve system integrity and to ensure that inaccurate or dated information is properly purged.
The ALPR system may be used, but is not limited, to conducting license plate canvases pursuant to a
criminal investigation, support operations to deter crime, or identify a potential incident/ event, which
poses or may pose a threat to public safety. ALPR Camera Systems serve as an important public
safety and law enforcement tool which enhances productivity, effectiveness, and officer safety. ALPR
systems are able to recognize, read, and compare motor vehicle license plates against various “hot
lists” with a greater efficiency and effectiveness than can be accomplished by officers manually
scanning and making comparisons. The utilization of this technology enables the MIPD to be more
effective in crime detection, prevention and the apprehension of persons engaged in criminal activity.

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DEFINITIONS

ALPR COORDINATOR: A member of the MIPD designated by the Chief of Police, responsible for
the management of the ALPR program, including its administration, training, and coordinating all
aspects of the ALPR system.
ALPR DATA: All information including ALPR location, date and time of a license plate reading, the
optical character recognition interpreted as alphanumeric data, and any ALPR generated digital
photographic image(s) of the license plate and vehicle is generated entirely by the ALPR equipment.
The ALPR does not conduct a live check against FCIC or NCIC, but rather, the system
conducts checks against a Hot List database which is downloaded at least daily from FDLE.
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER (ALPR): Equipment consisting of the camera(s),
computer, and computer software used to automatically recognize and interpret the characters on
vehicle license plates from vehicles that are moving or stationary. Digital images are processed
through the ALPR software and compared against a list of license plates flagged by NCIC/FCIC as
belonging to a stolen vehicle, registered to a person with an arrest warrant, registered to a missing
person, or other miscellaneous flags. This information is stored as ALPR data.
CONFIRMATION (Confirmed Hit): A hit by the ALPR System that has been validated as active by the
National Crime Information Center / Florida Crime Information Center (NCIC/FCIC), or the Driver and
Vehicle Information Database (D.A.V.I.D.)
DRIVER AND VEHICLE INFORMATION DATABASE (DAVID): is a multifaceted database that
affords immediate retrieval of driver and motor vehicle information for law enforcement and criminal
justice officials. DAVID is the primary reporting mechanism in the state of Florida for accidents
involving fatalities and serious bodily injury.
FLORIDA CRIME INFORMATION CENTER (FCIC): The State of Florida’s primary law
enforcement/criminal justice information system that provides agencies with access to Federal, State,
and local criminal justice information.
FIXED ALPR SYSTEM: ALPR equipment that is permanently affixed to a structure, such as a pole,
traffic barrier, or bridge.
HIT: An alert matched to a vehicle tag that has previously been registered on an agency’s “hot list” of
vehicle tags related to stolen vehicles, stolen tags or other factors supporting investigation, or which
has been manually registered by a user for further investigation.
HOT LIST: A list of stolen plates and vehicles entered into the National Crime Information Center
(NCIC) database, the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) database, the Florida Department of
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles database as well as any information that is entered manually.
NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER (NCIC): NCIC is a computerized index of criminal
justice information (i.e.- criminal record history information, fugitives, stolen properties, missing
persons). It is available to Federal, state, and local law enforcement and other criminal justice
agencies and is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
VEHICLE MOUNTED ALPR: ALPR cameras that are affixed to MIPD vehicles and are designed to
read license plates as the vehicle is moving.

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PROCEDURE

7-13.1 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

The ALPR system consists of cameras, hardware and software that converts a digital image of a
license plate into data that is processed by the system and compared against a list of license plates
that have some significance to law enforcement. When the system identifies a relevant vehicle tag, an
alert is sent to an employee(s) indicating whether the tag is associated with a crime, criminal
intelligence, or other category identified by Department system operators.

7-13.2 SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

1. The ALPR Coordinator is responsible for the operation and management of the ALPR system.

2. All personnel designated to maintain and operate the system or any of its components shall receive
the appropriate training to ensure that the technology is properly incorporated into police operations
and utilized only for Department purposes.

3. The ALPR Coordinator shall ensure that the integrity of the ALPR system is maintained, and that
deployment of equipment and distribution of system returns remain confidential to the extent provided
by law.

4. Misuse of this equipment and associated databases, or data, will result in disciplinary action, up to
and including termination.

5. Designated personnel shall periodically check equipment to ensure functionality and camera
alignment. Any equipment that performs outside expected functionality shall be removed from service
until deficiencies have been corrected. All system maintenance will be performed by trained
departmental personnel or approved vendors.

6. Members of the MIPD assigned to operate mobile ALPR systems will ensure that cameras and
associated computer hardware/software are in working order. Any problems with system operation
will be reported promptly to a supervisor in accordance with this directive.

7. ALPR Operators will exercise the utmost caution while driving and will not use the ALPR system in
any manner that would endanger or distract them resulting in a traffic crash.

8. The ALPR Coordinator will ensure that all data returned from the system is properly stored and
maintained on a secured server. Additionally, the ALPR Coordinator will review all requests for
access to stored data and ensure that the information is being used for legitimate law enforcement
purposes.

9. Requests for placement of fixed location ALPR cameras will be routed to the Chief of Police via the
chain of command.

10. All ALPR cameras shall only be situated or operated in areas or in a location in which a law
enforcement officer is legally permitted to be present.

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7-13.3 OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
The ALPR device passively reads the license plates of moving or parked motor vehicles using ALPR
optical character recognition technology and compares them against a Hot List. During the operation,
ALPR “hits” are indicated by an audible and visual alarm. An ALPR “hit” shall not be used as the
sole reason for the traffic stop or enforcement contact until all provisions contained in this
section have been satisfied. Contact with the vehicle and its occupants will only be made after
the “hit” is confirmed through NCIC/FCIC or DAVID.

1. The ALPR Operator receiving the notification must first visually verify that the Hot List entry
matches the digital image displayed by the ALPR. If for any reason it does not match, the “hit” will
be rejected. If however, it does match, the “hit” will be accepted and the ALPR Operator will verify
the “hit” through NCIC / FCIC.

2. After confirming the “hit” the ALPR operator, when practical, will through observation verify the
description provided matches the description of the person operating the vehicle before
stopping the vehicle.

3. Patrol Supervisor will respond when available to all confirmed hits involving an arrest and direct the
appropriate response by patrol personnel.

4. At a minimum one sergeant and one patrol officer will be logged into the fixed ALPR alert software
on each shift of duty.

The ALPR system is capable of conducting various types of queries that may include:

1. NCIC/FCIC warrant checks (wanted or missing persons)

2. Expired License Plates
3. Sanctioned Drivers (Suspended, Revoked or Cancelled)
4. Stolen Vehicles or License Plates
5. Protection Orders (Domestic Violence Injunctions)
6. Gang & Terrorist Watch List

Manual additions to the Hot List can be made to the system as they are received by the
program administrator. Examples of possible scenarios where a manual entry of a license plate
number may be entered are:

1. BOLO (Be on the lookout)

2. Attempt to Locate
3. Probable Cause exists out of our agency
4. AMBER/SILVER/BLUE Alerts
5. Child Abduction
6. Wanted or Missing Persons

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7-13.4 TRAINING
1. The Administrative Captain or designee will be responsible for overseeing the development and
administration of the training process for assuring proficiency of instructions and operators with the
ALPR.

2. Prior to using the ALPR system for law enforcement purposes, Officers will complete an agency
approved ALPR training based on manufacturer’s recommendations and department policies.

3. Only sworn employees approved by the Chief of Police or designee that are trained in the use of
the ALPR system will be authorized to utilize the device.

4. The Administrative Captain will be responsible for the annual review of the policy and procedures
contained herein and for making recommendations to the Chief for any necessary amendments.

The review at a minimum will identify:

a. Regular use and deployment of the ALPR system is consistent with the department
strategic alignment and utilized within policy.
b. The technology is performing effectively.
c. Operational factors that may impact performance effectiveness.
d. Identifying data quality issues.
e. Assessing value of the technology.
f. Identifying any improvements needed.
g. Validating internal hot list.

7-13.5 EQUIPMENT MAINTAINANCE

1. The ALPR Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the installation, implementation and
maintenance of the ALPR system.

2. All ALPR equipment must be properly maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations.

3. ALPR mobile operators are required to perform a function check of the equipment at the start of
their shift. The function check will test the video and audio recording functions and the unit itself.
The ALPR Operator will also ensure the unit is recording the proper day, date, and time. Any
problems will be immediately reported to the on-duty supervisor. If the problem is not corrected
before the end of the shift, the ALPR Operator will notify the patrol supervisor in writing of the
specific problem.

4. ALPR’s will not be disconnected for repairs by anyone, except a technician authorized by the
department.

5. ALPR camera lenses should be cleaned as recommended in the device training course.

6. Equipment Repair - Arrangements for repair will be made by the ALPR Coordinator or designee.
No attempt to repair the equipment, which would require going into the internal parts of the unit,
is permitted by any member of the Department.

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7-13.6 DATA RETENTION AND PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST
ALPR Data will be stored on a secure server and will be accessible to authorized personnel only in
furtherance of a criminal justice purpose. Any other use of this data is strictly forbidden.
All ALPR data will be retained for no longer than three (3) years in accordance FSS 316 .0778 unless
the data is affiliated with a criminal case file.

7-13.7 DISSEMENINATION OF ALPR DATA TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES

ALPR data may be shared with other criminal justice agencies for the purpose of ongoing criminal
investigations and for the purposes of active criminal intelligence. Members shall notify the recipient
of the applicable Florida statutes regarding privacy restrictions in accordance with FSS 316.0777 and
FSS 316.0778. The member disseminating the ALPR data will be responsible for logging the
information in the ALPR Dissemination log which is housed in the Investigations office.

7-13.8 RECORDS AND AUDITS

1. Records of the use and access of the ALPR shall be maintained within the ALPR software.

2. The Operations Captain or designee shall be responsible to conduct a quarterly audit of the ALPR
database to ensure only authorized users are accessing the data that is captured, stored, or
produced by the ALPR.

3. The results of the assessment will be documented on a report, which will be forwarded to the Chief
of Police. Reports will be due as follows:

January-February-March Report due by April 30th

April- May -June Report due by July 31st
July-August-September Report due by October 31st
October- November-December Report due by January 31st

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