C I T Y OF

OAKLAND

AGENDA REPORT
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To:
Attn:
From:
Date:

Office of the City Administrator
Deborah Edgerly
Police Department
April 22, 2008

Re:

An Informational Report From the Office of Chief of Police Detailing the
Effectiveness of Currently Installed Automatic License Plate
Readers (ALPR) and Costs Associated With Purchasing Six Additional Units
For Use By the Oakland Police Department

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SUMMARY
As requested by the Public Safety Committee on January 8, 2008, staff has prepared an
informational report detailing the effectiveness of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR),
and providing a cost analysis of six additional units.
FISCAL IMPACT
At the request of the Chair of the Public Safety Committee, outlined below are costs associated
with the purchase of six additional units fi'om PIPS Technology, which is the vendor and
manufacturer of the ALPR systems currently installed in the Department's vehicles. This fact
makes PIPS Technology the only vendor with compatible equipment, and therefore would be the
sole source vendor for expansion of this technology.
Quantity
6

Description
Police ALPR PAGIS unit (P362-950-LE-S) to include:
two P362 dual lens cameras with IR @ 950nm and
color overview; all custom camera cabling; PIPS ALPR
processor-trunk mounted; GPS module; All required
PAGIS and ALPR software installed on the processor
for the State of Califomia vehicle license database
(DOJ).
Installation Supervision by PIPS staff for OPD Shop
Personnel (Travel and Living Expenses are included)

Price Ea.

Price

$18,620.00 $111,720.00

$4,500.00

Sub Total

$116,220.00

Tax
3% Contract Assessment Fee
Total Cost

$ 10,169.25
$ 3,774.25
$130,163.50
Item:
Public Safety Comte.
April 22, 2008

 Deborah Edgerly
OPD - License Plate Readers

Page 2

This quote includes fees associated with a PIPS engineer providing on-site support and
supervision of installation, maintenance, and procedures. Maintenance is covered for a two year
period including shipping, repair, and return to the City at no additional cost. At the end of
service contract period, the Department would have the option of entering into another two year
service contract with PIPS\ As long as the City is under a service agreement with PIPS the units
will be fixed and replaced at no additional cost. Additionally, software updates are free of charge
and on-going as long as the Department is under a service contract. If the service contract is not
renewed, the City would be required to pay for repairs and software updates.
Installation of the equipment is the responsibility of Oakland Police Department's (OPD) shop
service personnel and requires no additional cost as the installation can be completed with
existing staff resources.

BACKGROUND
Over the last couple of years, ALPR (Automatic License Plate Reader) technology has been
refined and enhanced for use by the law enforcement community. This technology provides a
way for vehicle licenses plates to be automatically scanned by a computer from a moving vehicle
or a fixed location.
In August 2006 the City of Oakland purchased four ALPR units from Pips Technology. The four
vehicles equipped with ALPR technology are deployed in the City and have currently read
793,273 vehicle license plates; there have been hits^ on 2,012 license plates.
KEY ISSUES AND IMPACTS
During the last year staff has found that ALPR vehicles are a good investigative tool for
recovering stolen vehicles and identifying other crimes that occur within the City of Oakland.
Example 1: During a homicide investigation a license plate was obtained from a witness of the
suspect's vehicle. The license plate was run through the ALPR database of scanned plates and
showed that the vehicle was parked at the scene of the homicide approximately one month before
the homicide occurred. During the interrogation of the suspect, he denied ever being in that area
before the night of the shooting. With the data retrieved from the ALPR, investigators were able
to show that the suspect was lying about his association with the victim and the area.
Example 2: An OPD motor officer was riding on his police motorcycle when he was hit by a
vehicle one evening. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, however due to the impact of the
collision; the front license plate of the suspect vehicle was left behind at the scene. The plate was
run through the ALPR database and showed that the vehicle had been scanned in Oakland on two
' Service contract in the amount of $28,275 to service up to 13, two-camera systems and office software.
A hit is defined as a match from one of the above listed databases. Depending on the database that the hit is from
determines what action (s) the officer can take (i.e., recover a stolen vehicle).

Item:
Public Safety Comte.
April 22, 2008

 Deborah Edgerly
OPD - License Plate Readers

Page 3

different occasions. The following day, the registered owner of the vehicle called to report the
vehicle as stolen. During the interrogation of the owner she stated that she had never been in
Oakland before. The investigator showed her a copy of a photo of her vehicle in Oakland taken
by the ALPR vehicle. The suspect then admitted that she had hit the Officer and fled the scene.
In October 2006 the International Association of Chiefs of Police (lACP) adopted a resolution
(Attached) in support of the use of license plate recognition technology. The resolution outlined
several benefits of ALPR technology, encouraged its use, and prompted the U.S. Congress to
supply adequate funding opportunities for agencies interested in deploying ALPR technology in
their communities.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The PIPS ALPR system is made up of two roof mounted cameras and a trunk mounted
computer. The system is integrated into the patrol vehicle's Mobil Data Terminal (MDT). The
MDT is the officer's interface for the ALPR system, and displays the license plates and pictures
scanned so the officer can manually confirm the data being shown.
The license plate is then compared to multiple databases and the officer is instantly notified via
the MDT screen of any wanted vehicle matches in the system. The Police Department controls
these databases which can be both manually and automatically updated. Current databases
include stolen vehicles, wanted felony vehicles, lost or stolen plates, and Criminal Investigafion
Division (CID) wanted vehicles. Vehicles wanted for particular crimes such as missing persons,
Amber Alerts, etc. can be manually entered into the system. Once a license plate is scanned it is
stored in a central database (approximately six months to one year) which can be accessed at a
later date for other investigations related to other crimes.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: The ALPR system will decrease the potential for vehicle collisions as a result of
officers manually running vehicle license plates while driving. This will reduce the City of
Oakland's potential liability from vehicle collisions as well as decrease officer hours lost due to
injury as a resuft of vehicle collisions.
Environmental: No environmental opportunities have been identified.
Social Equity: The ALPR can scan and run more plates than a police officer could manually
input, thereby increasing the number of stolen vehicle recovered as well as locating wanted
subjects in other crimes. This will enhance the community by making Oakland a safer city.
Disability and Senior Access
There are no ADA or senior citizen access issues identified in this report

Item:
Public Safety Comte.
April 22, 2008

 Deborah Edgerly
OPD - License Plate Readers

Page 4

RECOMMENDATION / RATIONALE
Auto-theft continues to plague the City of Oakland and is one of the highest drivers of crime
statistics. Numerous sweeps, task forces, and special details have been used to combat this
ongoing crime issue. The Oakland Police Department now has an opportunity to employ
emerging technology to directly affect this criminal activity
Based on the ongoing vehicle theft problem in the City of Oakland and the overwhelming
success of the four ALPR vehicles currently deployed by the Department, staff supports and
recommends the purchase of six addifional ALPR systems. The added systems would increase
the coverage areas, resulting in more stolen vehicles being recovered as well as increasing the
investigative effectiveness of these systems in other crimes.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE COUNCIL
There is no action requested of the Council; this is an informational report.

Respectfully subniitted,

APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:
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(A^<--)<y^

,^ayne G. yuckfer
* Chief of Poilicei
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Prepared by:
Dave Kozicki
Deputy Chief of Police
Bureau of Field Operations

Office of the City Adnvidistfator
Attachment: lACP Resolution

Item:
Public Safety Comte.
April 22, 2008

 I

INTERNA TIONAL ASSOCIA TION O F CHIEFS O F POLICE

RESOLUTION
Adopted at the 114"^ Annual Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana
October 16,2007
SUPPORT FOR LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEMS
Submitted by the Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs Committee
NDD.020.a07
WHEREAS, effective anticrlme programs are effective antiterrorism programs; and evidence
indicates that terrorist organizations which are funded in part by the sale of illegal drugs adds a
new dimension to the need for continued investigation of narcotics related crime; and
WHEREAS, license plate reader and related digital photographing systems at border
checkpoints incorporate the use of technology that provides a searchable database, including
associated photographic images; license plate information; and statistical data such as date, time,
and entry lane; and
WHEREAS, license plate reader systems and related digital photographing systems, working in
combination with existing law enforcement databases, have the potential capability of identifying
conveyances used for illegal activity, including the transportation of drugs and bulk cash; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement intelligence information may be shared more efficiently through
greater use of technology and information sharing programs such as license plate reader systems
to help ensure that investigative links are made to organized drug trafficking and related crime to
the maximum extent possible; and
WHEREAS, all countries are encouraged to use technology such as license plate reader and
related digital photographing systems, where practical, to share appropriate law enforcement
information; and
WHEREAS, license plate reader and related digital photographing systems provide law
enforcement with important tools necessary to combat all types of crime and is particularly
useful in combating narcotics trafficking; and
WHEREAS, a significant commitment of resources will be required by federal, state, and local
law entities to fully take advantage of this emerging technology; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 114th
Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, strongly encourages the U.S. Congress to fully
fund license plate reader and related digital photographing systems, including interrelated
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 information sharing networks, for the northern and southern borders of the United States; and, be
it
FURTHER RESOLVED that all countries are encouraged to use like technology, to the extent
possible, to share appropriate law enforcement information; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the lACP supports the development of a comprehensive License
Plate Reader guide for law enforcement executives that addresses current technologies; best
practices; privacy issues, legal implications, and open source data systems.

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