ANPR and Barcode scanning

The right to park a vehicle in a paid parking area can be visually indicated by a ticket on the dashboard or a sticker on the windscreen, or can be registered in a database. In the first case the PCO can visually verify if a ticket must be issued; in the second case the license plate, or a bar code ticket on the vehicle provides the key to the information needed. The handheld computer supports any or these situations.

The use of ANPR and barcode scanning greatly enhances the PCO's effectiveness. A PCO can verify the status of a vehicle beyond doubt by quickly capturing its VRM and excise licence number. The two pieces of information are cross-referenced to determine the vehicle's status.

The ANPR capabilities also afford a wide range of opportunities; a system of virtual permits is becoming feasible. Rather than sending out a physical permit, this scheme can rely on the details of permit holders and their vehicles that are sent to Sphynxx. Upon scanning a vehicle's registration number using ANPR, Sphynxx can inform the PCO whether or not the vehicle has a permit.

ANPR makes it easy for a PCO to check every car they pass, rather than just the obvious offenders. This provides a huge amount of valuable statistic information and allows the potential to discover stolen vehicles, particularly when combined with special messages (derived from police lists) regarding specific vehicles or locations. It is also useful for Limited Waiting or No Return patrolling. A PCO can regularly and rapidly check all vehicles on a street, and Sphynxx indicates any offences committed.