Sheriff's Office
Dustin D. Heuerman, County Sheriff

Champaign County Coronavirus Response Webpage

The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office uses technology to help enhance the level of service given to Champaign County residents. We are dedicated to using this technology in an ethical, legal and professional manner while recognizing the established privacy rights of the public.

How Automated License Plate Reader Technology Works

ALPR systems capture images of vehicle license plates. They read these images with software, check the plate numbers against databases of vehicles of interest, and alert officers when a match occurs. This process usually takes just seconds. An officer typically receives an alert in 12 seconds or less when a vehicle of interest is detected.

An “alert” happens when a vehicle’s license plate is on a list of vehicles of interest. These lists come from sources like the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), the Law Enforcement Agency Data System (LEADS), the Department of Homeland Security, the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS), and National Amber Alerts.

Officers can also enter vehicle or license plate data. For example, victims and witnesses often give officers descriptions of suspect vehicles, sometimes including full or partial license plate numbers. Officers can input this information, adding it to the Sheriff’s Office’s list of vehicles of interest to be incorporated as part of an investigation.

It’s crucial to note that even though ALPR involves automation, officers must confirm that the system has read the license plate accurately. They must also check that the plate comes from the same state as the one being sought and that the alert remains current.

Some things to note:

  • LPRs do not monitor people or track individuals. They capture license plates in public spaces to help identify vehicles connected to crimes or missing-person cases. They are targeted investigative tools governed by strict policies, not surveillance.
  • Access is restricted, every search is logged and auditable, and data retention is limited.
  • LPRs capture vehicles in public spaces regardless of who is driving. They do not collect personal information or identify individuals.
  • LPRs don’t replace traditional policing – they support it. They help deputies work faster and more accurately in time-sensitive situations, such as missing children or violent crime investigations. LPRs can provide a “piece of the puzzle” during an investigation – it is not the only piece and does not replace a thorough investigation.
  • LPR technology is regulated by Illinois law. It cannot be used for anything related to immigration enforcement or reproductive health investigations.
  • Agency-sharing of our LPR data is limited to Illinois law enforcement agencies and only for legitimate investigative purposes. Law enforcement agencies outside of Illinois must submit a written request to access LPR data, with specific justification, before any information is provided.

ALPR Transparency Portal

To ensure transparency, the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office has established an ALPR Transparency Portal, offering data on the collection, storage, and use of ALPR data by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.

Click below to visit the ALPR Transparency Portal
ALPR Transparency Portal. Click below to visit the ALPR Transparency Portal

ALPR Policy

A link to the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office Automated License Plate Reader Policy can be found here: County Sheriff’s Office Automated License Plate Reader Policy