INCORPORATING LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION INTO YOUR SCHOOL

As another school year begins, teachers, staff, students, and parents are considering the issue of safety and how to ensure everyone at schools in Lubbock, TX, can remain safe. From enhanced access control to gunshot detection systems, each district is defining the best protocols for maintaining secure school grounds. 

This safety begins in the parking lot, showing who enters the school grounds before they get out of their car and reach the interior. The system that accomplishes this is security cameras with license plate recognition. 

Let’s explore the benefits and features this system brings to your school. 

SEE ALSO: Access Control: A School’s First Line of Defense

THE FIRST LAYER OF PROTECTION 

Security cameras are installed near the entrance and exit of your school grounds. These cameras possess license plate recognition capabilities, enabling them to zoom in on every license plate, automatically read it, and compare it with existing lists of approved or restricted vehicles. 

A restricted vehicle list may consist of license plates belonging to sex offenders, students under investigation for potentially threatening behavior, or parents who are undergoing child custody issues. These systems can also integrate with law enforcement databases, identifying individuals or vehicles that pose safety concerns, such as arrest warrants or stolen cars. Security and supervisors are immediately notified if a vehicle that is on a restricted list attempts to enter school property. 

APPREHENDING A SUSPECT 

While preventative measures are always the top choice in school security, it’s also important to have the necessary means to identify someone who has committed a crime. These crimes may comprise break-ins, vandalism, and violence. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, between 2019-2020, 47% of elementary and secondary schools reported one or more incidents to law enforcement. 

If your surveillance cameras capture a perpetrator and license plate number, this information goes to law enforcement, providing invaluable assistance in making an arrest. 

THE NEXT STEP IN SCHOOL SECURITY 

Today, almost every school has video surveillance cameras. Cameras with license plate recognition capabilities can transmit the information, compare it to existing records, offer enhanced perimeter monitoring, increase security, and potentially save lives. Should cameras identify an unknown or listed vehicle, your school’s security monitoring team immediately receives an alert and a photo screenshot of the vehicle. If the person is identified as a known aggressor, the school can immediately lock down before the person even gets out of their car. 

EVERYDAY USES

Fortunately, our schools are not besieged by crime on a daily basis. License plate recognition technology can also help during everyday affairs. For instance, it can recognize the difference between a bus and a car and send a notification if a car is in a bus or no parking zone. 

School safety officers can't be everywhere all the time. These systems provide a second set of eyes. Are you ready to increase the safety and security in your school district? At ASAP Security Services, we protect students and staff throughout Texas, ensuring customized security solutions unique to their property and needs. To learn more about license plate recognition or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact ASAP Security Services today.