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Documenting Police Tech in Our Communities
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Austin Police Department: Automated License Plate Readers

Vigilant brand automatic license plate reader affixed to a light pole
An example of a Vigilant Solutions fixed-license plate reader.
Credit: Mike Katz-Lacabe (CC BY)
Agency Austin Police Department
Location Austin, TX
Technology Automated License Plate Readers
Vendor Vigilant Solutions

The Austin Police Department purchased automated license plate readers in 2016 from Vigilant Solutions for $50,000, and expanded that system for an estimated $350,000.

More about this technology

Automated license plate readers are cameras attached to fixed locations or to patrol cars that capture every license plate that passes. The data is uploaded to searchable databases with the time, date, and GPS coordinates.

Vigilant brand automatic license plate reader affixed to a light pole
An example of a Vigilant Solutions fixed-license plate reader.
Credit: Mike Katz-Lacabe (CC BY)