Configure License Plate Recognition

Learn how to configure the LPR feature on the Verkada Bullet series cameras

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.

Before you begin

Before you install your LPR camera, follow these position recommendations for optimal results:

Lane monitoring

Camera Model	Position Recommendation
CB51 CB61	Face a single lane of traffic for vehicles traveling 20 mph (32 kph) or less, such as an entrance or drive-thru.
CB52	Face a single lane of traffic for vehicles traveling 80 mph (128 kph).
CB62	Face multiple lanes of traffic for vehicles traveling 80 mph (128 kph).

Optimal license plate detection

Camera Model	Position Recommendation
CB51-E, CB61-E	Vehicles be within 60 ft (18m) of the camera.
CB52-TE, CB62-TE	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.
CB52-E, CB62-E	Vehicles be within 60 ft (18m) of the camera. However, it is possible to detect license plate details from up to 66 ft (20m) away or further.

Proper positioning for improved accuracy

Camera Model	Position Recommendation
CB51 CB61	No more than 20º horizontally and/or 40º vertically from the location of the license plate.
CB52 CB62	Less than 30° vertically or horizontally from the location of the license plate. It’s OK 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 LPR in Command

You must be an Org Admin to enable LPR Mode. Learn more about roles for Command users.

1

In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Admin.

2

Select Feature Manager.

3

Under Vehicle Analytics, enable License Plate Recognition.

4

Once License Plate Recognition has been enabled, you can activate it on applicable cameras.

Enable LPR on a camera

You must be an Org Admin to enable LPR Mode. Learn more about roles for Command users.

1

In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Cameras.

2

Navigate to the designated LPR camera.

3

Click Settings > Analytics.

4

Next to License Plate Recognition (LPR) Mode, click Enable.

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

1

Ensure that the camera image is set to the recommended mounting angles, and click Next.

2

Configure the Optical Zoom so that the passing vehicle takes up more than half of the frame.

3

Use Auto Focus or Manual Focus if the image becomes blurry after using the Optical Zoom, and click Next.

4

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.

5

(Optional) Add a context camera to capture the scene for the full view of vehicle events, and click I’m done.

To the right of a license plate event (on the Events page), click the Settings (gear) icon to return to this menu.

View LPR in color mode

You can now stream live and recorded footage in color for the latest generation LPR cameras (CB52 and CB62). You can distinguish vehicle colors in existing deployments lacking Context Cameras.

Newly configured LPR cameras will work in color mode, by default. Cameras already configured for LPR will need to have the LPR mode disabled, and re-enabled.

1

In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Cameras.

2

Navigate to the designated LPR camera.

3

Click Settings > Analytics.

4

Under LPR Mode:

a. Click Disable. b. Click Enable when it appears.

Manage license plates

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

1

Ensure you have alerts enabled for license plates.

2

Navigate to Events.

3

Next to License Plates of Interest, click the Alerts (bell) icon.

4

Select how you want to receive notifications.

5

Select the license plate you want to add. This enables license plates of interest.

6

At the top right, click License plate for interest to add the entry to your list.

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.

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Prefer to see it in action? Check out the video tutorial.

Need more help? Contact Verkada Support.