Identification

Israel implements car licence plate recognition system

By Amelia Kwok | 3 December 2008

A Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) system, also known as ‘SeeCar’ has been installed in more than 20 municipal parking lots in Tel Aviv, Israel, as the automated solution for vehicle access control.

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The parking lots are managed by the Ahuzot Hahof municipal company, which operates the Tel Aviv Municipality’s 110 parking lots. HTS’s LPR system is integrated in Fast Park, a comprehensive automatic parking management system, developed by AFCON Control & Automation and T.I.B.A., an AFCON subsidiary. So far, the system has been successfully implemented at six municipal parking lots.

The LPR system, provided by HTS, automatically reads and identifies the licence plate of each car entering the parking lot. The information is checked against a database of cars owned by Tel Aviv residents holding a resident’s card, who are eligible for discounted parking in municipal parking lots. Cars owned by holders of resident’s cards are also eligible for overnight free parking according to their residential zones (Tel Aviv is divided into eight parking zones).

The system knows when to permit free parking for a resident and when to calculate a discount, or identify a non-resident and demand full payment. As a vehicle enters the parking facility, its licence plate number is included on the parking ticket issued at the entrance to the parking facility. The parking fee is paid according to the length of stay, and special discounts if applicable, in relation to the licence plate number associated with the ticket.

“The LPR systems enable automatic access control at the parking lots, saving resources and preventing mistakes in calculating the parking fees through manual means,” said Roni Ikar, CEO of Ahuzot Hahof. “In addition, it prevents bottlenecks at the entrance and exit points, thereby enhancing improved service to drivers.”