(BLOOMINGTON) — Indiana University has started a yearlong test of using license plate reading cameras for parking regulation enforcement on its Bloomington campus.
The project that began in November involves a camera mounted on a vehicle and comes as campus officials plan a switch from hang-tag parking passes to a system involving license plates registered by the parking permit holder.
The goal of the pilot will be to evaluate potential efficiencies for enforcement of parking regulations in campus parking zones and to assess occupancy in garage facilities, according to IU Bloomington parking operations director Amanda Turnipseed.
During the pilot, which will last up to 12 months, parking enforcement will use a truck equipped with cameras to ensure that valid permits are being used in the parking facilities. Cameras in the Poplars garage and the lower level of the Jordan Avenue garage will also be used to assess occupancy. All hardware and software that will be used have been reviewed and meets university security standards.
The license plate information collected in this process will only be referenced against the parking database to verify IU parking permits, meters and pay stations on the Bloomington campus. This information will be routed to secure servers and will not be shared with other departments or outside agencies.
No changes to current parking regulations will be required by users of the campus parking system.
Learn more about license plate recognition on the Office of Parking Operations website.
