License plate technology is used in many different ways today, and it is easy to assume that any system that captures an image of a license plate operates like a License Plate Recognition (LPR) or Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system.

NovoaGlobal® photo enforcement is not an LPR database or vehicle-tracking system.

There is an important distinction between technology designed to document a specific traffic violation and technology designed primarily to identify and record license plates.

What Does NovoaGlobal Photo Enforcement Do?

NovoaGlobal’s photo enforcement technology is focused on traffic safety. Our systems are used for programs such as red-light, speed, school-zone, stop-sign, and railroad-crossing enforcement.

When the system records a potential traffic violation, images and other evidence associated with that specific event are captured. License plate information is used to identify the registered owner as part of processing that event.

Just as importantly, technology does not make the final enforcement decision. Each potential violation is reviewed by trained personnel before being submitted to the appropriate municipality for authorization. Final approval remains with an authorized government official.

How Is LPR Different?

LPR technology is designed primarily to identify and read license plates. Depending on how a particular system is configured and used, an LPR system may capture a plate simply because a vehicle passes within the system’s field of view—no traffic violation is required.

LPR systems may also associate a plate read with a particular location, date, and time. Some systems retain those records so authorized users can later search historical plate information or compare plates against other records, databases, or law-enforcement hot lists.

That is fundamentally different from NovoaGlobal’s violation-based approach.

NovoaGlobal Is Not an ALPR Data Aggregator

NovoaGlobal does not continuously scan license plates for the purpose of tracking vehicle movements, create commercial databases of license plate sightings, or aggregate plate information across jurisdictions.

We do not perform speculative or bulk plate searches, and we do not sell or monetize enforcement information. License plate information is collected as part of the evidence associated with a system-recorded traffic event and used for the administration of the municipality’s traffic safety program.

Our focus is the traffic safety event—not tracking where a vehicle travels.

The Municipality Owns Its Program Data

Another important distinction is data ownership.

Images, license plate information, violation records, and associated metadata captured, processed, or stored in connection with a municipality’s NovoaGlobal photo enforcement program remain the exclusive property of the municipality.

NovoaGlobal holds and processes that information solely in its role as the municipality’s technology service provider and program administrator.

Protecting Program Data

NovoaGlobal maintains a strict non-disclosure policy. Program data is not sold, licensed, transferred, or made available to third parties for unrelated purposes.

Data may be released when the municipality, as the data owner, expressly directs NovoaGlobal to do so. Information may also be disclosed when NovoaGlobal is legally compelled by a valid court order, subpoena, or other binding judicial directive. When legally permitted, the municipality is notified so it has an opportunity to respond.

Outside of these circumstances, NovoaGlobal personnel, contractors, affiliates, partners, and agents are not authorized to disclose program data for unrelated commercial or other unauthorized purposes.

Security Is Part of the Program

Protecting municipal and law-enforcement information requires more than a privacy policy. It requires strong security practices throughout the organization.

NovoaGlobal maintains a SOC 2 Type II audit report, reflecting independent assessment of controls related to areas including security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

NovoaGlobal is also a Strategic Partner of Nlets, the interstate justice and public safety network, and maintains security controls aligned with applicable CJIS Security Policy requirements where required by customer contracts and operational environments.

NovoaGlobal is also an E-Verify certified company, helping ensure personnel are legally authorized to work in the United States.

Traffic Safety, Not Vehicle Tracking

NovoaGlobal has worked in photo enforcement and public safety technology since 2010. The municipalities and law-enforcement agencies we serve trust us with information that must be handled responsibly and securely.

The distinction is simple:

LPR technology is designed to recognize license plates. NovoaGlobal photo enforcement is designed to document specific traffic safety events.

We do not operate a commercial plate database, aggregate plate sightings across jurisdictions, or monetize enforcement information. Municipalities retain ownership of their program data, and potential violations remain subject to human review and government authorization.

For NovoaGlobal, responsible data management is an essential part of our mission of Creating Safer Communities.

Contact Us

Have questions about NovoaGlobal® photo enforcement technology or our approach to data privacy and security?

888-666-4218
Ext. 6 – East Coast | Ext. 7 – West Coast
[email protected]