When it comes to license plate data, you have to follow your local compliance regulations, which are designed to to ensure users have authorization and a legitimate purpose for accessing the ALPR data.
Additionally, some jurisdictions go further, requesting that agencies purge license plate data after a set number of days as a guiding principle for data management and security best practices.
When looking for an ALPR system, it’s critical to know how the provider honors compliance regulations, since they vary between states and jurisdictions.
Here’s what to look for:
1. A Flexible ALPR System
Your ALPR system should have a built-in flexible software solution that can be configured to meet an agency’s data management and retention policy. Whether it’s a period of a few days or several months, the system should be easily configurable to meet any compliance regulations around data privacy.
2. Detailed ALPR System Reporting
You need ALPR software with robust auditing functions. This allows supervisors to view detailed data usage reports and see what searches users are conducting. Because the system can track user activity, if a question surrounding data policies arises, you’re prepared to quickly produce a report. This type of reporting capability provides a vital system of checks and balances along with peace of mind.
3. Your Agency Should Store Data, Not The ALPR System Provider
ALPR system capture data should be stored on your agency’s servers, either physical or cloud-based. This means your agency is the only organization with access to those data captures, unless you opt in for data sharing with other law enforcement agencies (this is often the case as shared knowledge helps solve crimes that inevitably cross jurisdictional lines). The ALPR system provider should only be providing you with the tools and services to capture, manage and analyze license plate data; it should not have access to any of the data for its own commercial use.
As the need for ALPR systems increases and more agencies adopt this highly effective technology for law enforcement, expect more uniform storage guidelines to evolve. In terms of privacy issues around data, the best ALPR systems have the ability to comply with storage regulations, produce audit supports and put the power of data management in your agency’s hands.
Ready to learn more about a flexible ALPR system solution that upholds compliance regulations for data privacy?
