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Newport News Police Department
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS (ALPRs)
Standard Operating Procedures Manual
I. PURPOSE
A. The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines for the deployment,
maintenance, training, and data storage associated with the usage of license plate recognition systems
by NNPD personnel.
B. The automated license plate reader program enhances criminal investigative capabilities. The program
is also intended to enhance public security at designated locations by supplementing existing security
measures.
II. DEFINITIONS
A. Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR): A device that uses cameras and computer technology to compare
digital images of vehicles and license plates to lists of available information of interest.
B. ALPR Operator: Trained department members who may utilize the ALPR system. ALPR operators may be
assigned to any position within the department.
C. ALPR Administrator: The Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) supervisor, or designee, serves as the ALPR
Administrator for the department.
D. Hotlist: A list of license plates associated with vehicles of interest compiled from one or more databases
including, but not limited to, NCIC, VA DMV, VCIN Local BOLO’s, etc.
E. Vehicles of Interest: Including but not limited to vehicles which are reported as stolen; display stolen
license plates or tags; vehicles linked to missing and/or wanted persons and vehicles flagged by the
Department of Motor Vehicle Administration or law enforcement agencies.
F. Detection: Data obtained by an ALPR image (i.e., a license plate) within public view that was read by the
device, including potential images (i.e., the plate and description of the vehicle on which it was displayed),
and information regarding the location of the ALPR system at the time of the ALPR’s read.
G. Hit: Alert from the ALPR system that a scanned license plate number may be in the National Crime
Information Center (NCIC) or other law enforcement database for a specific reason including, but not
limited to, being related to a stolen car, wanted person, missing person, domestic violation protective
order, missing persons, stolen plates, stolen vehicles, warrants or terrorist-related offense.
III. PROCEDURE
A. General [41.3.9(a)]
1. The ALPR technology, also known as License Plate Recognition (LPR), allows for the automated
detection of license plates and the vehicle make, model, color and unique identifiers through the
Newport News Police Department’s ALPR system vendor’s vehicle identification technology. The
Newport News Police Department uses the technology to convert data associated with vehicle license
plates and vehicle descriptions for official law enforcement purposes
2. The use of ALPR systems is restricted to this agency’s public safety–related missions and is limited
to the following circumstances (see § 2.2-5517):
a. For criminal investigations into an alleged violation of the Code of Virginia or city ordinance,
where there is a reasonable suspicion that crime was committed.
b. For an active investigation related to a missing or endangered person.
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