CarPlay Help Australian Police Scan Plate Number Automatically

CarPlay is commonly used by motorists to access apps like Apple Maps (photo: x @mateuszbudzen)

JAKARTA Australian Police are increasingly expanding the use of CarPlay in their operations on the highway. With the latest update, the infotainment system in police vehicles can now display information regarding the surrounding vehicle number plates automatically.

CarPlay is commonly used by motorists to access apps like Apple Maps or play music through a built-in car screen. However, in Australia, police have used this technology for police duty over the past few years.

In its latest development, the West Australian Police (WA Police Force) updated the PSCore mobile application used in their patrol vehicles. The application developed by Motorola Solutions can now display data from the automatic number plate recognition system (ANPR) directly on the police vehicle infotainment screen via CarPlay.

Usually, police vehicles in Australia are equipped with an ANPR system that can scan and display information about nearby vehicles, including ownership history and related legal records. With integration into CarPlay, this information can be accessed more efficiently without requiring the installation of additional equipment that takes place in the car.

" ANPR data in real-time help ensure that officers in the field are more aware of potential risks and can make better decisions," said Superintendent Dean Snashall of the Western Australian Police. "This application also helps officers document events more quickly and accurately, so they can focus more on protecting the public."

Currently, the CarPlay-based ANPR feature has been implemented in more than 80 police vehicles in Western Australia.

PSCore application

The Western Australian Police have been using the CarPlay-integrated PSCore app for several years. In April 2022, Motorola Solutions introduced OneForce Core which allowed officers to see essential information related to emergency calls and live incidents on vehicle screens via CarPlay.

Officers can interact with this application via touchscreen or voice commands, thereby increasing efficiency while on duty. Currently, the PSCore application has been installed on more than 6,000 mobile devices used by the Western Australian Police.

In 2024, PSCore also received updates to handle more types of incidents, including domestic violence reports. With the latest automation features, domestic violence reports can now be sent directly to the Community Department while police are still at the scene. This speeds up the referral process to social assistance agencies, so that victims can immediately get the necessary support.