One of the most frequently asked questions in aerial surveillance is whether cameras mounted outside of a building at night can capture a clear image of a vehicle’s license plate. The response varies and largely depends on what kind of camera you have, what are its functionality and the area.
Whether you are planning to install a security system and want to know more about security cameras’ features, or if you are purely curious about what insight modern surveillance technology has about license plates, this guide will give you a better understanding of how security cameras can read license plates at night, and when they can.
Why Is It Difficult to Capture License Plates at Night?
It’s not so simple in the dark to read license plates. There are many factors that can prevent surveillance cameras from producing clear and readable images of license plates in low-light conditions:
Low Light Conditions
A dimly lit environment can make it difficult for regular security cameras to pick up details such as the letters and numbers on license plates.
Vehicle Headlights Glare
At times, bright headlights if faced directly, can cause a glare, which may make the license plate unreadable when captured in footage.
BLUR MOTION
Moving vehicles could bring blurring of images, this can be noticed if cameras don’t have motion-detection optimization.
Reflection Off Reflective Plates
A great deal of license plates have a reflective surface to make them more easily visible to drivers, but sometimes the infrared light can bounce off this surface and back at the lens, ruining the shot.
By recognizing these challenges, you can determine the best solution for your nighttime license plate recognition needs.
What Features Allow Security Cameras to Read License Plates in the Dark
But technology has also improved security, so newer cameras also include tools that can address those issues. Here are the most important ones that help you understand if your camera is able to capture license plates clearly at night:
Infrared (IR) Night Vision
To capture videos and images at night, cameras employ infrared night vision that illuminates the place with infrared LEDs instead of a visible source of light. It allows the camera to “see” even in total darkness. Premium security cameras are able to adjust the infrared light for reduced plate glare and reflection.
What to Look for:
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High-intensity IR LEDs for better night vision in wide area coverage cameras
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IR intensity is adjustable to keep illumination that photosensitive reflective plates are never overexposed.
Characteristics: Adjustable night vision with dominant Smart IR capabilities for the best night time view quality,I nfluences such as Smart IR to adapt to the surroundings
Wide Dynamic Range (WDR)
WDR is a capability of the camera system to process the scene when illuminated with strong light sources (e.g., headlights at night) to avoid saturation of one part of the image while not capturing the other._ WDR (up to 4rds) WDR helps balance the lighting in the dark and bright areas, reducing the light, and makes the license plate of your car clear.
What to Look for:
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Support for True WDR (as opposed to Digital WDR) for enhanced performance in extreme lighting conditions
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High dB-rated cameras (>120dB) for additional light balancing.
LPR (License Plate Recognition) or ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) Cameras
Dedicated LPC or ANPC cameras have been specifically created to photograph license plates in any setting, even at night. Sophisticated algorithms in these cameras discern the actual license plate from the general image and enhance just the plate.
What to Look for:
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Built-in LPR/ANPR software that can automatically detect and recognize characters
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Dynamic setting features for vehicles in motion
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Plate data storage and handling software compatibility
High Resolution
Another factor a camera’s resolution also greatly affects is details such as license plates at night. The better the resolution, the clearer and more detailed the images will appear - even when they’re taken in low light.
What to Look for:
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Cameras that record at least 1080p Full HD resolution (4K would be even better for greater detail)
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Optical zoom lenses to view recorded details from far away
Detection of Motion and Exposure Time
The issue of motion blur is frequently encountered in vehicle motion imaging. Cameras that are purposely designed with Variable shutter speeds and motion detection can greatly reduce this blur.
What to Look for:
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Fast shutter speed cameras, in order to freeze the motion of objects
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Motion-tracking tech that tracks moving vehicles and locks onto the plate
Integrated Lighting
Some high-end cameras are equipped with white-light LEDs that, if activated, can be turned on to flood the surrounding area with visible light, helping lights to illuminate license plates and the rest of the scene. This is especially helpful when used with cameras that have weak built-in infrared illumination.
What to Look for:
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Models with brightness control for white-light LEDs
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Glare-reducing and plate-enhancing lights
Night License Plate Capture Challenges and Solutions
Here are the challenges and some possible solutions associated with capturing license plates at night.
Position the Camera Correctly
Position the camera so glare and reflection are minimized, and the license plate is inside the viewing area.
Don’t be too high or too low with the camera at or around 2-3ft below your desired vehicle height.
Adjust Settings
Try increasing or decreasing the IR brightness and exposure on the camera to avoid overexposing reflective number plates.
Forget about blur with a shutter speed that is good for the moving motif vehicle configuration.
Use Supplemental Lighting
Add extra lights in the areas not well lit for less dependence on IR lighting, Punjabigraphics.com
Select lighting types appropriate for your camera’s IR capabilities to reduce feedback.
Keep Lenses Clean
Image quality may easily be impaired, swept up or bumped against stuff while on a walk. Taking care of your camera allows it to work to the best of its abilities.
Record Specific Zones
Install LPR/ANPR cameras at entrance and exit areas, where vehicles are likely to stop/slow down their passage.
The Best Case Scenarios for Reading License Plates at Night
In some of these cases, advanced, feature-rich security cameras are a great fit:
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Gated Community/Residential Property: Let only authorized vehicles through, and maintain vigilance against unauthorized entry.
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Commercial Parking Lots: Document plates for security, enforcement, or customer validation.
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Toll Booths or Highways: ANPR cameras are also an essential need for traffic regulation and toll recovery.
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Special Event Operations: Protect guests’ and visitors’ vehicles parked at your event facilities.
Where Brochure Cameras Fail
Although a lot of consumer cameras claim to have “night vision,” in most cases, they won’t be reliable for reading license plates in darkness. If you really require accurate license plate reading, specialist cameras or dedicated LPR hardware will be a better fit.
Better Tools for Safety and Security
On the vehicle side, nighttime LP recognition has become increasingly attainable due to technological advances. The good security cameras will have advanced features to do away with lighting issues, glare and motion blur for picture-perfect security images. The secret is to choose appropriate features and tune their arrangement.
Interested in buying a camera? Study These models have Infrared night vision, WDR, and high resolution,n perfect for reading license plates at night. And for the most stable results, dedicated LPR/ANPR cameras offer peerless performance.
Coming Up With a Plan
The right combination of security tools can cover everything from intruders and routine activity.
You can learn more about: How Long Does a Security Clearance Last
