“Saw these mounted on the rear bumper of a Sheriff’s cruiser. What purpose do they serve?”
If you’ve ever seen a Sheriff’s cruiser and noticed strange-looking cameras mounted on the rear bumper, you might have wondered what they’re for. These devices are actually License Plate Readers (LPRs), and they serve a very specific and vital function in law enforcement.
Primary Function: Auto Theft Prevention and BOLO Plates
LPRs are used primarily to help with auto theft and tracking Be On the Look Out (BOLO) plates. The cameras continuously scan the license plates of passing vehicles, comparing them against databases in real time. If a match is found — for example, if the vehicle is reported as stolen or linked to a wanted suspect — the system immediately alerts officers.
This technology allows police to automatically monitor large numbers of vehicles on the road without having to stop and manually check plates. It’s particularly useful in busy areas, on highways, and during high-speed chases where manually reading license plates would be inefficient.
How It Works
LPR systems use optical character recognition (OCR) to read the alphanumeric characters on a vehicle’s license plate, even at high speeds or from a distance. The data is then cross-referenced with databases of stolen vehicles, vehicles associated with crimes, or even traffic violations.
Why Mounted on the Rear Bumper?
Mounting the LPRs on the rear of the cruiser allows them to capture the plates of vehicles that are behind the patrol car, giving officers the ability to scan plates in both directions (front and rear) as they patrol.
The Bigger Picture
Beyond just catching stolen vehicles, LPR technology can be a crucial tool for solving crimes, identifying suspects, and improving overall public safety. It’s one of the many ways modern policing is becoming more tech-driven and proactive in preventing crime.
Next time you spot one of these devices, you’ll know exactly what they’re doing — helping law enforcement stay ahead of the game and keep communities safer.
