Montreal, August 7, 2008 A pilot project has been launched due to an agreement between the Sureté du Québec (Québec’s Provincial Police) and SAAQ/Department of Motor Vehicles to use MES PLATES, a License Plate Recognition System developed by Group Techna. The Sureté du Québec (SQ) has begun testing hi-tech infrared cameras produced by Elsag North America. In the SQ environment these cameras will capture between 3 000 and 5 000 license plates per day. These cameras operate in conjunction with Group Techna’s state-of-the art LPR software MES PLATES. Patrol cars in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke, and a host of other major cities across the province have been equipped with LPR since the beginning of August. This system enables police to efficiently determine which vehicles are not authorized to be on the road. Whether it is from a suspended driver’s license, expired permit or DUIs these drivers will be apprehended and taken off the streets in record timing due to this truly groundbreaking technology.

The Video Breakthrough in Surveillance and Enforcement
Every vehicle on the street has a License Plate however not everyone is authorized to be driving those vehicles. Identifying individuals that have suspended licenses or that are involved in impaired driving or criminal negligence is key to preserving public safety on our roads and highways. Sureté du Québec officer Mélanie Paul states that in Québec alone, 95 000 people are driving with an expired license. Further, SQ Sergeant Jason Allard adds over 300 000 have suspended drivers licences. Three out of four of those people continue to drive with a suspended permit and in 17% of fatal crashes at least one of the parties involved has a suspended license. Tracking these drivers on Hot Lists is of major interest to law enforcement. LPR dramatically reduces the amount of time and manpower spent to accomplish this task since targeted License Plates are right there on display.

In addition to impaired driving and expired or suspended licences, LPR can track stolen vehicles, assist in amber alerts and help locate the owners/operators of vehicles who are wanted on outstanding warrants.

How it Works
The cameras are connected to computers which have an up-to-date database that is provided by the SAAQ/ Department of Motor Vehicles. MES PLATES, the dynamic software module developed by Group Techna facilitates the log and capture of this data in real-time positioning Group Techna as a leader in Mobile Enforcement. Our software engineers in conjunction with Elsag North America, have married video inputs with Image Analysis software that identifies targeted plates using an onboard Hot List, and returns an alarm back to the operator in milliseconds. Depending on the
application, the vehicle-mounted video cameras, can capture as many as 8 000 plates
per eight-hour shift at speeds in excess of 75MPH (120KM/h), while the officer is attending to other routine duties.

The split second response of the MES PLATES system is its most important asset. When the patrol officer receives an audible alarm, the laptop screen will display a digital picture of the Plate and the vehicle as well as information as to the reason the
plate is Hot Listed, all the while still abreast of the vehicle.

The Real Winner is Public Safety
Jurisdictions using the MES PLATES System experience dramatic increases in their capacity to track vehicles. Prior to LPR an average of 40 vehicles per shift was common versus a minimum of 3 000 per shift using License Plate Recognition. LPR’s potential to positively impact highway safety makes it an invaluable asset to traffic enforcement.

John Harbour, Executive Director and President of the SAAQ/Department of Motor Vehicles, states that «this technology is viewed as an opportunity to act on two important aspects of its mission: the promotion of public highway safety and furthermore, the management of access to Quebec highways. Keeping track of who has access to Quebec roads is a matter of public security».

«The project can make a substantial contribution to traffic control in Québec as it significantly increases the capacity of Police officers to apprehend those violators who are often involved in major road collisions». Recent statistics in Québec have proven that an alarming number of road accidents causing death have implicated a driver with
suspended driver permits.

A Fully Functional System Easily Integrated with Existing Hardware & Databases MES PLATES is a dynamic software module developed by Group Techna and can be easily adapted to systems such as the Department of Motor Vehicles and virtually any database. Software is customized by industry experts in law enforcement and engineered to suit the unique requirements of enforcement projects from conception to implementation. Great news for traffic enforcement teams that will benefit from this
hyper-efficient technological breakthrough.

For more information contact Michael Leccese at 514.953.9898, info@gtechna.com