License Plate Recognition (LPR) at UAlbany

License Plate Recognition System

Parking & Mass Transit Services’ uses a license plate recognition (LPR) system. Under the system, license plates act as visitor, student, faculty and staff parking permits. 

Learn more about the system: 

 

UAlbany's Uptown Campus, as photographed by a drone on a partly cloudy spring day. A parking lot, campus buildings and green trees are visible

 

What is license plate recognition?

License plate recognition (LPR) systems use a technology called optical character recognition, which converts images of text into machine-readable text, to read hundreds of license plates and quickly match them with records in the Parking Services database.

LPR has been around for decades and is commonly used at other SUNY campuses including but not limited to, the University at Buffalo, Binghamton University, and SUNY Brockport. 

Purchase a permit today. 

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How does UAlbany’s LPR system work?

The LPR system is integrated into a streamlined UAlbany parking portal, so you can easily purchase a daily or annual permit, update your license plate information, request temporary permits, pay citations and more.

When UAlbany’s parking attendants patrol campus, the LPR system will capture a photo of each vehicle and its immediate surroundings, a photo of each vehicle’s license plate and the date/time. Data collected by UAlbany’s LPR system is stored securely to protect your privacy and is only used to validate vehicle registration.

Purchase a permit today. 

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What else do individuals who park on campus need to know?

Vehicles must be parked so that a license plate is viewable from the driving lane and license plates must be readable. Devices that cover or obstruct a license plate are illegal in New York State, and the presence of such devices may result in a citation.

 

An infographic showing proper and improper parking and license plates under UAlbany's license-plate recognition system, as described in the text above this image.

 

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What are the benefits of using LPR technology?

  • Sustainability: By being digital, we’re significantly reducing paper and waste.
  • Convenience: Once you register for a parking permit, you’ll be ready to park on campus.
  • Flexibility: Add a temporary vehicle online at no charge unexpectedly taking a different vehicle.
  • Support: Allows parking staff to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively.
  • Safety: Using license plates to verify parking privileges prevents loss and forgery of decals. 

Purchase a permit today. 

benefits