San Francisco BART Approves LPR Technology -- Security Today

San Francisco BART Approves LPR Technology

The readers will record license plate information of vehicles inside BART parking lots when they enter and leave

By Sydny Shepard
Apr 29, 2019

San Francisco's BART will once again move forward with equipping its parking lots with license plate reading technology despite privacy concerns, after a vote by the BART Board of Directors.

The location of the four cameras has yet to be revealed, but the readers will record license plate information of vehicles inside BART parking lots when they enter and leave.

The surveillance technology automatically concerts images of license plates into text readable by machines, which then link to known crime databases like Be On the Lookout Alerts, AMBER and SILVER alerts to match the license plate vehicles of interest to law enforcement agencies.

BART hopes the new technology will help to reduce theft at the parking lots, which cost BART riders some $7 million in property damage and theft annually, according to the agency. BART parking lots saw 1,178 auto burglaries in 2017, and 930 in 2018.

The program was previously approved, but was delayed because of privacy concerns. Some argued the policy would be another brick in the road towards transforming the Bay Area into a surveillance state.

BART's manager of security programs, Mimi Bolaffi, said that BART would be instituting a 30-day retention policy, down from one year in a previous proposal. The license plate data would be stored with the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, which does not share information with ICE or other immigration agencies.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now
- Video Surveillance
UL Solutions Launches Artificial Intelligence Safety Certification Services

UL Solutions Inc., a global leader in safety science, today announced the launch of artificial intelligence (AI) safety certification services, enabling comprehensive assessments for evaluating the safety of AI-powered products. Read Now
- Artificial Intelligence
ESA Announces Initiative to Introduce the SECURE Act in State Legislatures

The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the national voice for the electronic security and life safety industry, has announced plans to introduce the SECURE Act in state legislatures across the country beginning in 2025. The proposal, known as Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures, provides a clear framework that allows candidates and elected officials to use campaign funds for professional security services. Read Now
- Guard Services
Ransomware Attacks Rise for the First Time in Six Months

Ransomware attacks have risen for the first time in six months, increasing by 28% month-on-month to 421 attacks. While overall attack volume remained below 500, the uptick may signal a renewed escalation heading into the year’s most active period for cyber criminals. Read Now
- Cybersecurity
Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now
- Guard Services

Security Today eNews

Sign up today for essential industry news and product information that can help you stay afloat in the fast-paced world of security.

Email Address*Country*

Please type the letters/numbers you see above.

Webinars

Whitepapers

New Products

Automatic Systems V07

Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.
AC Nio

Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.
EasyGate SPT SPD

Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.