Here’s why licence plate scanners can quickly flag suspended drivers

An Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) device is shown during a March 2, 2026, occurrence. (Barrie Police)

Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology is giving police another tool to spot drivers who should not be on the road.

What it does

The system automatically scans licence plates and checks them against databases to confirm permits, vehicle status and Criminal Code alerts. When something is flagged, officers will receive a real-time notification while they are out on patrol.

Barrie police say the technology recently helped track down a driver whose licence was suspended.

On Monday at about 9:15 a.m., officials say an officer on patrol received an alert about a possible suspended driver. The officer saw the vehicle travelling northbound on Anne Street North and made a U-turn to initiate a stop.

Even with emergency lights and sirens, the vehicle continued northbound, allegedly weaving through traffic before turning onto Sunnidale Road and pulling into a parking lot.

When officers approached the driver, they found a man in the driver’s seat and a woman in the passenger. According to the police report, the man denied driving and claimed the vehicle had already been parked.

Officers told him they had watched the vehicle travelling on Anne Street North before it entered the lot.

Why it helps

Images captured by the automated recognition system also confirmed the vehicle and its licence plate. Investigators later determined the driver had been driving while his licence was suspended.

A 40-year-old Barrie man now faces charges that include driving while under suspension, failing to stop when signalled by a police officer, driving a motor vehicle with no valid permit and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.

The licence plate recognition technology gives officers real-time alerts that support policing efforts.