License Plate Recognition (LPR)
Most of our permits are virtual parking permits at ISU. Instead of putting a physical permit in your vehicle, your license plate acts as your virtual permit. Parking enforcement officers use license plate recognition (LPR) technology to check virtual permits. LPR allows officers to read license plates as they drive through parking lots and check their registration status in our parking management system.
It’s your responsibility to ensure that the information in your parking account is accurate and up to date. You can learn more about permit types/rates or purchase a permit online. Please note the FAQ's related to LPR below.
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What is LPR and how does it work?
LPR is an acronym for license plate recognition. A camera is attached to the enforcement vehicle that reads a license plate and cross references this information with the parking database to establish if the vehicle holds a current/valid parking permission and is parked in the correct area according to the allowances of the parking permission they purchased. The use of this technology has become common place in the parking industry. |
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Why are you implementing this technology?
The purpose/goal is to provide a more convenient parking situation by not requiring the display of a physical permit in the vehicle. Instead of a physical permit, a parking permission is issued in the parking database and attached to the license plate. This will avoid “failure to display” violations issued in the field, provided that the user has registered the license plate of the vehicle they are parking on campus. |
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What data is being collected by the technology?
License plate information, date, time, location. This information is cross referenced with the parking database to determine parking permission status. |
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What are the images used for?
Parking enforcement, violation detection, citation issuance, lot occupancy counts. |
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Does this technology access any other systems on campus or elsewhere?
No, the system integrates only with the parking databases. |
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How long is the data kept on file?
90 days for plates where no action is taken (no violation is noted, and no citation is issued). Indefinitely for plates where a citation is issued, or until the data is purged. |
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Who has access to the data collected and will it be shared with any other entity?
| Parking staff has access to the data. We may share your personal information outside the University as required by law, order of governmental authority, or court order. See our privacy statement for additional information. |
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Will this technology remove the need for everyone to display a physical permit?
No, reserved space holders will still need to display a physical permit, as will laboratory school permit holders. Motorcycles will be issued a physical permit. Business permit parking will also still require a physical permit to be displayed, along with a purchased employee virtual permit. Physical temporary permits will still be required as well. |
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Will this technology increase the cost of parking on campus?
Parking rates are not determined by the implementation of new parking technology. |
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How do I correctly enter my license plate information?
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What do I do if I have a new vehicle with a temporary license plate?
| You will enter your temporary plate as shown on the plate. When you receive your permanent license plate, you must update your information. Vehicle changes can be reported by completing a Vehicle Change Request form on the parking website. If you need assistance, contact our office. |
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What if I share a vehicle with someone else who also has a parking permission?
The LPR system has difficulty recognizing vehicles listed on multiple parking permission accounts. To avoid being cited in error, we recommend only listing your vehicle under your own parking permission. Students will be limited to registering only one vehicle under their permit. If a loaner car is necessary, contact our office for assistance before parking on campus. |
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Can I register more than one vehicle under my parking permission?
Students will be limited to registering only one vehicle under their permit. Faculty and staff can register more than one vehicle. However, we recommend registering only one vehicle under your parking permission. If you register more than one vehicle and both vehicles are on campus at the same time, a citation will result. |
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What if I have a rental vehicle or “loaner” vehicle?
| Vehicle changes are reported by completing a Vehicle Change Request form on the parking website. Temporary changes can be reported on this form by entering a start date and end date. The temporary permit will be removed from the permit after the end date, and the most recent vehicle on record will be reinstated. |
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Will this affect how we park in the campus lots?
All vehicles must park so that their license plate is facing the drive lane. Vehicles that are not required to display a front license plate can no longer back into spaces in the surface lots and metered lots. Vehicles registered in Illinois are required to properly display both a front and rear plate. Back in parking is not allowed in the garages, and this will not change. License plates must be properly affixed, clearly visible and not obstructed by snow or other debris. |
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How is my personal information protected?