Electronic license plate

Last updated December 27, 2024

An electronic license plate (also referred to as a digital display license plate or a digital license plate) is a vehicle-mounted identification device that emits a radio signal for tracking and digital monitoring purposes. Various patents have been published to replace traditional metal and plastic license plates. It communicates directly with a vehicle's computer system and other remote systems related to vehicle regulation.^[1]

History

Dean L. Naddeo invented a patent on June 11, 2002,^[2] for electronic license plates. The patent describes the capability to connect the license plate to a centralized system for registration control, and a method whereby the centralized system can update the license plate display. Two examples are given; 1) in the situation where the vehicle is involved in a crime, or 2) where the registration is no longer valid.

Design

Similar in size to traditional license plates, an electronic license plate often has a digital display measuring 12 by 6 inches (30 by 15 cm) which is set into a rectangular housing.^[3] The display is powered either directly from the vehicle's power system or by batteries and can communicate with the vehicle's onboard computer.^[4]

Components

Central processing unit - Gathers and sends out information to external sources; sends information for display on the license plate's screen.
Storage and Identifying key - The integrated circuit that stores information (e.g., vehicle registration, identification numbers, state of issue, expiration date) and restrictions, as well as a corresponding key to prevent electronic tampering.
Disabling units - sensor; If tampering is detected, it sends a signal to the central computer system and ignition disrupter to disable the vehicle's electronic component.
Display - backlit screen

Features

Information

Information such as the vehicle identification number (VIN), registration expiration date, proof of insurance, and legal ownership records are displayed digitally on the plate's screen or viewed using a remote device.^{[ citation needed ]}

Prepaid services

Electronic license plates allow certain transportation-related fees and services to be prepaid digitally and updated automatically. Possible fees that could be automatically paid include vehicle registration renewal, tolls, and parking permits.^{[ citation needed ]}

Security

In situations such as a police chase or car accident, the plate could emit a signal of collision or crime, directly identifying the vehicle's involvement.^{[ citation needed ]} If not identified at the scene, the license plate holds the information in memory and displays a digital alert.^{[ citation needed ]}

Privacy

Privacy concerns are a major reason electronic license plates are not yet in public use.^{[ citation needed ]} By consumer privacy laws, information from the electronic license plate will be sent out only when the vehicle is involved with any violations or illegal activities.^{[ citation needed ]}

Criticisms of Electronic License Plates

Price and practicality

One common criticism of Electronic License Plates is the high price of such devices, with Tom Nardi of Hackaday stating that "[t]he question of whether or not the average car owner is willing to pay $800 to avoid the DMV is one we can't really answer".^[5]^[6]

Security and privacy

Another criticism of electronic license plates is the ability for third parties to disable their vehicle or display messages on their license plate without their permission, and the device constantly uploading GPS data.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2022, a security expert demonstrated how a hacker could access electronic license plate company Reviver's backend web-based database to track or change license plates at will, including changing a vehicle's status to "STOLEN" and informing authorities.^[7] In 2024, another security firm researcher demonstrated how a hacker could physically "jailbreak" an electronic license plate by modifying its firmware, which would allow them to control what the plate displays, including changing the license plate number to evade toll fees, camera surveillance, and/or law enforcement.^[8]

Technical issues and legality

One criticism of electronic license plates is that they are computer systems and inherently prone to technical glitches and issues. An example would be popular car YouTuber Doug DeMuro commenting on how a license plate was downloading a software update.^[9] Another issue is that the primary manufacturer RPlate prevents their customer from opening it, preventing any repairs such as a broken screen from being performed by the user.^[5]

The practicality of installing such plates is also debated. As of 2023, only a select few states have allowed these devices.^{[ citation needed ]}

Adoption in the U.S.

Three states in the US are exploring improvements over traditional license plates. The governor of California has set up California's Electronic License Plate Pilot Program,^[10] which will test such alternatives. In 2017, California expected to issue electronic license plates to a limited number of volunteers to test this new technology. The main reason for California's interest in electronic license plates is to reduce taxpayers' expenses and are projected to reduce the $20 million spent by the Department of Motor Vehicles.^{[ citation needed ]}

After a successful rollout in California and Arizona, Michigan has legalized digital license plates.^[11] Legislation in Florida regarding allowing digital license plates has been considered but ultimately was not passed.^[12]

As of 2023,^{[ citation needed ]} there is currently one vendor of electronic license plates in the United States. California-based Reviver^[13] is the sole supplier of electronic license plates for the states of Arizona,^[6] California,^[14] Michigan,^[15]^[16] and Texas (commercial fleet vehicles only).^[17]^[18]

Related Research Articles

All of the 50 constituent states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for the year 1979.

The country in which a motor vehicle's vehicle registration plate was issued may be indicated by an international vehicle registration code, also called Vehicle Registration Identification code or VRI code, formerly known as an International Registration Letter or International Circulation Mark. It is referred to as the Distinguishing sign of the State of registration in the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968.

Motorized vehicles in Indonesia are required to have registration plates, which must be displayed both at the front and back of the vehicles. The issuing of number plates is regulated and administered by SAMSAT, which is a collaboration between the Indonesian National Police, provincial offices of regional revenue, and the national mandatory vehicle insurance operator Jasa Raharja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automatic number-plate recognition</span> Optical character recognition technology

Automatic number-plate recognition is a technology that uses optical character recognition on images to read vehicle registration plates to create vehicle location data. It can use existing closed-circuit television, road-rule enforcement cameras, or cameras specifically designed for the task. ANPR is used by police forces around the world for law enforcement purposes, including checking if a vehicle is registered or licensed. It is also used for electronic toll collection on pay-per-use roads and as a method of cataloguing the movements of traffic, for example by highways agencies.

In the United States, vehicle registration plates, known as license plates, are issued by a department of motor vehicles, an agency of the state or territorial government, or in the case of the District of Columbia, the district government. Some Native American tribes also issue plates. The U.S. federal government issues plates only for its own vehicle fleet and for vehicles owned by foreign diplomats. Until the 1980s, diplomatic plates were issued by the state in which the consulate or embassy was located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European vehicle registration plate</span>

A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate, license plate or licence plate, is a metal or plastic plate or plates attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing authority's database. In Europe most countries have adopted a format for registration plates that satisfies the requirements in the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which states that cross-border vehicles must display a distinguishing code for the country of registration on the rear of the vehicle. This sign may be an oval sticker placed separately from the registration plate, or may be incorporated into the plate. When the distinguishing sign is incorporated into the registration plate, it must also appear on the front plate of the vehicle, and may be supplemented with the flag or emblem of the national state, or the emblem of the regional economic integration organisation to which the country belongs. An example of such format is the common EU format, with the EU flag above the country code issued in EU member states.

Motor vehicle registration is the registration of a motor vehicle with a government authority, either compulsory or otherwise. The purpose of motor vehicle registration is to establish a link between a vehicle and an owner or user of the vehicle. While almost all motor vehicles are uniquely identified by a vehicle identification number, only registered vehicles display a vehicle registration plate and carry a vehicle registration certificate. Motor vehicle registration is different from motor vehicle licensing and roadworthiness certification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle registration plates of Russia</span> Russia vehicle license plates

Vehicle registration plates are the mandatory number plates used to display the registration mark of a vehicle, and have existed in Russia for many decades. Most motor vehicles which are used on public roads are required by law to display them. Having a number plate obstructed by snow, mud, paper, or any other tool that makes any of the digits and letters illegible is considered an administrative offense and results in a fine.

Video tolling is a form of electronic toll collection that uses video or still images of a vehicle's license plate to identify a vehicle liable to pay a road toll. The system dispenses with collection of road tolls using road-side cash or payment card methods, and may be used in conjunction with "all electronic" open road tolling, to permit drivers without an RFID device to use the toll road.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the state agency that registers motor vehicles and boats and issues driver licenses in the U.S. state of California. It regulates new car dealers, commercial cargo carriers, private driving schools, and private traffic schools. The DMV works with the superior courts of California to promptly record convictions against driver licenses, and initiates administrative proceedings before its own administrative law judges to suspend or revoke licenses when drivers accumulate excessive convictions. It issues California license plates and driver's licenses. The DMV also issues identification cards to people who request one.

Thailand's vehicle registration plates are issued by the Department of Land Transport (DLT) of the Ministry of Transport. They must be displayed on all motorized road vehicles, as required by the Motor Vehicle Act, B.E. 2522 and the Land Transport Act, B.E. 2522. The plates vary in design, colors and dimensions according to the type of vehicle, but usually display a registration number and the vehicle's province of registration. Specifications are given in Ministry of Transport regulations. Current style started in 1975 for most vehicle types, but with small changes in 1997, and 1997 for motorcycles.

Driver licences in Australia refer to the official permit required for a person to legally drive a motor vehicle in Australia. The issue of driver licences, alongside the regulation and enforcement of road use, are all managed by state and territory governments.

In the United States, the appearance of license plates is frequently chosen to contain symbols, colors, or slogans associated with the issuing jurisdiction, which are the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the five inhabited U.S. territories, and Native American tribes, each of which independently registers motor vehicles. Regular-issue license plates for passenger vehicles typically have six or seven characters, with vanity plates having up to eight characters in a few states.

The U.S. state of Pennsylvania first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1906, when the state began to issue plates.

The U.S. state of California first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1914, when the state began to issue plates. Plates are currently issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

The current format of vehicle registration plates of Kazakhstan uses black letters on a white background with a Kazakh flag and the country code KZ on the left. The two digit area code is located on the square located on the right and the rest of the plate follows the format 111AAA. This format was introduced in 2011 and was implemented from August 2012.

Pay-by-phone parking is a system of paying for car parking via a mobile app or mobile network operator. It is an alternative to the traditional ways to pay for parking of parking meter or pay and display machines. SMS pay-by-phone parking was first introduced by Vipnet. Since its introduction in Croatian capital Zagreb in 2001 under the name M-parking, the number of registered users has steadily increased. By 2004, the Croatian M-parking scheme was the largest in Europe. Today, pay-by-phone parking is used by millions of people all around the world.

Vehicle registration plates are the alphanumeric plates used to display the registration mark of a vehicle, and have existed in the United Kingdom since 1904. It is compulsory for motor vehicles used on public roads to display vehicle registration plates, with the exception of vehicles of the reigning monarch used on official business.

Vehicle location data is the big data collection of vehicle locations, including automatic vehicle location data. This usually includes times and often photographs as well. Common methods of data collection include automatic number plate recognition of vehicle registration plates from images collected by cameras mounted on vehicles or fixtures along roads, as well as radio-frequency identification (RFID) from dedicated short-range communications transponders . Databases of this information may be maintained by government or private entities. Private companies use vehicle location data for vehicle repossession and consumer profiling. Government databases have been subjected to legal orders for location data. Access may be restricted to use in criminal cases, but may also be available for civil cases, such as divorce.