PlateSmart’s rigorous security protocols help ensure that digital evidence remains trustworthy, unalterable, and legally admissible in court.
PlateSmart Technologies announced comprehensive details of its industry-leading security architecture designed to maintain the integrity and legal admissibility of digital evidence collected through its automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems. The company’s tamper-proof technology ensures that every license plate capture and image remains authentic and verifiable from collection through courtroom presentation.
As digital evidence plays an increasingly critical role in criminal investigations and prosecutions, PlateSmart has engineered its systems to meet the most stringent security and legal requirements.
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“The integrity of digital evidence is not just important—it is absolute,” said Kathleen Chigos, President of PlateSmart Technologies. “Courts require proof beyond question that evidence is authentic, unaltered, and fully traceable. PlateSmart’s security architecture doesn’t just meet those standards—it surpasses them. ALPR records are cryptographically sealed the moment they are created, immutably time-stamped, and assigned a unique, verifiable identifier. Any attempt—internal or external—to modify, delete, or tamper with data is immediately exposed. There is no way to manipulate our evidence without detection, and that is by design.”
Multiple Layers of Protection
PlateSmart’s security framework establishes a strong protective layer against tampering or unauthorized access:
- Evidence Integrity: Pieces of ALPR evidence receive unique identifiers, precise timestamps, and cryptographic seals at creation. This ensures authenticity of records can be independently verified at any time.
- Tamper Detection: The system creates an virtually unbreakable chain between sequential events. Each digital event depends on the one before it. Any attempt to alter, delete, or reorder records immediately breaks this chain, making tampering instantly obvious.
- Permanent Storage: ALPR data is stored in specialized write-once databases that prevent any modification after creation. Even system administrators cannot delete or alter records, ensuring long-term evidence preservation.
- Automated Chain of Custody: The system automatically documents interactions with evidence, recording who accessed what information and when. This creates the clear documentation trail that courts require.
- Military-Grade Encryption: Data transmission is conducted using advanced encryption validated to federal security standards. User credentials are protected with multiple layers of security, and multi-factor authentication ensures only authorized personnel can access the system.
Legal Compliance and Court Admissibility
PlateSmart’s security architecture addresses the legal requirements for digital evidence admissibility. The system’s cryptographically verified records meet self-authentication standards under federal and state rules of evidence, meaning they can often be admitted in court without additional testimony to establish authenticity.
The company’s security protocols align with Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) requirements and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards, ensuring compatibility with law enforcement best practices.
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