Automatic Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR)

DRPS is leveraging the power of technology to enhance roadway safety in the region with the deployment of Automated Licence Plate Reader (ALPR) technology.

What are ALPRs?

ALPRs are camera systems that automatically capture images of all licence plates within the camera’s scanning range. The system continuously scans licence plates that will alert officers to any “hits” on a hotlist (stolen plates and vehicles, plates registered to suspended drivers (including impaireds, expired permits, and other offences). The system will also notify officers of missing and wanted persons and vehicles associated to AMBER alerts. This information is already available to officers if they were to run your licence plate on the computer in their car themselves; it does not give police access to any new information. 

What is a hit?

A hit refers to a scanned licence plate that appears to match a plate on a hotlist.

What is a hotlist?

A hotlist is a list of licence plates that police or affiliated institutions, such as the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), have identified as those for which police should be on the ‘lookout’ (a type of watch list). Police services generally receive hotlists from MTO and the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), to which they can manually add plate numbers in defined circumstances. The hotlists are stored in the ALPR database and copied to a computer in a police vehicle.

What plates get added to a hotlist?

A plate can be added to the hotlist for many reasons including, but not limited to:

• Stolen vehicles
• Stolen licence plates
• Expired permits
• No insurance
• If the owner of the licence plate is:
  • A suspended driver
  • Wanted
  • Missing
  • The subject of an open and active criminal investigation

How many cruisers will be equipped with ALPR?

DRPS plans to equip 89 cruisers with ALPR technology by December 2023.

Privacy

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) has released guidelines on the use of ALPR systems by police. Our collection, retention, use and disclosure of any personal information obtained from the ALPRS program is done so in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).