Smart Cameras Blog

From Spyblogs London Congestion Charge advanced ANPR camera test:

The UK is moving ahead with using ANPR as a method of collecting toll fees. I don’t think its happened yet in the US, but as the technology improves its probably likely. Here is a snippet from the the Evening Standard article:

Trials for super-spy cameras By David Williams Motoring Edito, Evening Standard 17 June 2005. Secret trials of cameras for the extension to the congestion charge zone are under way. Powerful new digital cameras are being tested at two sites. They can read thousands of number plates in minutes.

They are more powerful than the CCTV cameras enforcing the ?5 charge – soon to rise to ?8 – in central London. Officials are testing accuracy as the cameras read thousands of number plates in quick succession; they are said to be highly impressed. The units use digital technology instead of the analogue system in the existing zone. They are more accurate and are not affected by the weather. Insiders say they can zoom in with far greater clarity than any previous-traffic camera, and they are believed to be able to read foreign plates.

Here is a picture of the system from Spyblog:

rshah ALPR