The Verkada Bullet series cameras can perform License Plate Recognition (LPR). This article guides you through the requirements and steps to ensure LPR delivers the best results. For more details, see Configure License Plate Recognition Overview.
Requirement: You must be an organization admin to enable LPR Mode.
Before you begin
Before you install your LPR camera, we recommend these guidelines for the best results:
Lane monitoring
The CB51 and CB61 cameras should be positioned to face a single lane of traffic for vehicles traveling 20 mph (32 kph) or less, such as an entrance or drive-thru.
The CB52 cameras can be positioned to face a single lane of traffic for vehicles traveling 80 mph (128 kph).
The CB62 cameras can be positioned to face multiple lanes of traffic for vehicles traveling 80 mph (128 kph).
Optimal plate detection
To ensure optimal license plate detection with the CB51-E and CB61-E cameras, we recommend that vehicles be within 60 ft (18m) of the camera.
To ensure optimal license plate detection with the CB52-TE and CB62-TE cameras, we recommend that vehicles be within 115 ft (35m) of the camera. However, it is possible to detect license plate details from up to 164 ft (50m) away or further.
To ensure optimal license plate detection with the CB52-E and CB62-E cameras, we recommend that vehicles be within 46 ft (14m) of the camera. However, it is possible to detect license plate details from up to 66 ft (20m) away or further.
Proper positioning improves accuracy
The CB51 and CB61 cameras should be positioned no more than 20º horizontally and/or 40º vertically from the location of the license plate.
The CB52 and CB62 cameras should be positioned less than 30° vertically or horizontally from the location of the license plate. It is acceptable to have a larger angle for lower speeds (for example, 45° for parking lot deployments) and recommended to have a smaller angle for fast speeds (for example, 15° for highway deployments). The camera may still be able to capture adequate images outside of these angles, but with a lesser degree of accuracy.
Lighting
If the area where license plates are captured is far away and not well lit, we strongly recommend to use an external infrared (IR) illuminator to improve the visibility of the license plates.
Enable the LPR feature
Requirement: You must be an Organization Admin to enable LPR feature.
In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Admin.
At the top, click Privacy & Security.
Select Feature Manager.
Under Vehicle Analytics, enable License Plate Recognition.
Once License Plate Recognition has been enabled, you can activate it on applicable cameras.
Enable LPR on a camera
Requirement: You must be an Organization Admin to enable LPR Mode.
In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Cameras.
Navigate to the designated LPR camera.
Click Settings > Analytics.
Next to License Plate Recognition (LPR) Mode, click Enable.
Note: After you enable LPR mode on a camera and configure it, it takes up to 5 minutes for results to populate.
Configure the LPR camera
Ensure that the camera image is set to the recommended mounting angles, and click Next.
Configure the Optical Zoom so that the passing vehicle takes up more than half of the frame.
Use Auto Focus or Manual Focus if the image becomes blurry after using the Optical Zoom, and click Next.
Click and drag a region of interest over the area that license plates will pass through, and click Next. The selected area must be less than half of the entire frame.
(Optional) Add a context camera to capture the scene for the full view of vehicle events, and click I'm done.
Note: To the right of a license plate event (on the Events page), click the Settings (gear) icon to return to this menu.
Manage license plates on the Events page
View license plates captured
Once a camera has been enabled for LPR and Vehicle Analytics mode, a new section of Command is available to view (under the Vehicles page) of all captured license plates. This area shows all the captured license plates and a clip of when the capture happened.
Filter for specific license plates
You can use the search bar to find a specific license plate. When you enter the license plate, the exact clip(s) of when it was seen displays.
You are also able to filter for a specific camera along with a specific day.
Enable license plates of interest alerts
Ensure you have alerts enabled for license plates.
Navigate to Events.
Next to License Plates of Interest, click the Alerts (bell) icon.
Select how you want to receive notifications.
Select the license plate you want to add. This enables license plates of interest.
At the top right, click License plate for interest to add the entry to your list.
Note: Any plate added as a license plate of interest affects all other users. If you add a plate, any other user configured to receive alerts will be notified if that plate is detected.
Learn more
License Plate Recognition (Overview)
License Plate Recognition (User Guide)
Need more help? Contact Verkada Support