Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology should not be underestimated

All Australian states and territories now use both fixed and mobile automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems.

The New South Wales police force highway patrol was the first to trial and use a fixed ANPR camera system in Australia in 2005. In 2009 it began a roll-out of a mobile ANPR system, known officially as MANPR, with three infrared cameras fitted to its highway patrol fleet (since updated).

The system identifies unregistered and stolen vehicles, as well as disqualified or suspended drivers and other "persons of interest", such as persons who have outstanding warrants. It detects number plate details and checks these against a massive data base that has been expanding exponentially.