License Plate Scanners Aren’t Just for Cops Anymore
Rekor surveillance cameras come with vehicle recognition software.
Courtesy: Rekor
Police have long relied on license plate readers to investigate crimes. Now the technology is coming to the masses—and the trend is sounding alarm bells for privacy experts.
Maryland-based Rekor Systems Inc. has started offering home video surveillance software through a service called Watchman, starting at $5 a month. In addition to reading a license plate, the system can record a vehicle’s make, color, and body type. In October, Rekor will launch what it says is a “first of its kind” mobile app, which will let users scan license plates with their phone camera. The app could come in handy for schools, to “securely identify valid visitors for student pickup lines” or to manage cars in parking lots, among other uses, the company says.