VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION STUDY REPORT - UTILITY OF LICENSE PLATES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT - IACP (INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE)

• NCJ Number: 66423
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 38 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS NATIONWIDE STUDY REFLECTS A FAVORABLE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES AS A POLICE TOOL IN DAILY OPERATIONS.

Abstract

ALMOST 60 PERCENT OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES MAILED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE WERE RETURNED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ADDRESSED. RESPONDENTS IDENTIFIED THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS OF CONCERN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AS GENERAL AND STREET CRIME CONTROL, NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT AND CONTROL, AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND CONTROL. THEY ALSO RATED MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES MOST IMPORTANT AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOL IN THE SAME AREAS OF CONCERN, BUT IN A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT ORDER, WITH TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND CONTROL RANKED FIRST. MOST RESPONDENTS ALSO CALLED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LEGIBILITY OF LICENSE PLATES BY USING BRIGHTER AND MORE REFLECTIVE MATERIALS, LARGER CHARACTERS, AND MORE DISTINCTIVE MARKINGS; APPROVAL OF TWO-LICENSE PLATE SYSTEMS IN PREFERENCE TO ONE-PLATE SYSTEMS; BETTER READABILITY OF LICENSE PLATES AT HIGHER SPEEDS UNDER DAY AND NIGHT CONDITIONS; THE USE OF LETTERS AND NUMBERS INSTEAD OF OTHER COMBINATIONS; AND STATE IDENTIFICATION THROUGH DISTINCTIVE COLORS RATHER THAN THE USE OF MAPS, MOTTOES, OR SYMBOLS. THE STUDY QUESTIONNAIRE IS INCLUDED. (WJR)