Hubert United …United States
Sep 25, 2026
Onslow County Sheriff Chris Thomas would like to address citizen concerns surrounding the agency’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system.
The technology, known as PlateRanger, is an ALPR system that uses cameras to capture license plate information and compare that information against specific law enforcement databases. The technology is designed to help deputies and investigators recover stolen vehicles, locate missing persons, identify victims or suspects, and investigate serious crimes.
PlateRanger is a law enforcement tool and does not replace the need for deputies to have lawful grounds for enforcement action. Deputies remain responsible for following applicable laws, department policies, and training when taking enforcement action, and may only use the system during an active criminal investigation.
“We understand that whenever law enforcement introduces new technology, people have questions about privacy, civil liberties, and how that technology will be used,” said Sheriff Thomas. “Our community deserves straight answers, and we want to be transparent about how PlateRanger is used.”
[How It Works]
The PlateRanger cameras capture images of license plates and vehicles traveling on public roadways and record the tag, make and model, color, and direction of travel. The image is then run against a database of license plate numbers associated with ongoing investigations. If the license plate hits the database, deputies are alerted. If not, the data is stored for 30 days, then deleted.
The data is stored on secure servers where the Sheriff’s Office controls access to only members trained to use it, with safeguards designed to prevent unauthorized access or misuse.
The Sheriff’s Office also has a ALPR policy that citizens can view on the Sheriff’s Office website at onslowsheriffnc.gov or through the free Sheriff’s Office App.
[What It Does Not Do]
PlateRanger does not identify the vehicle's occupants or have Bluetooth or facial recognition capabilities to track vehicles, and deputies do not continuously monitor the system or the movement of law-abiding citizens.
The Sheriff’s Office recognizes that new technology can raise legitimate questions within the community. As technology advances, so do the methods criminals use to commit crimes and evade detection.
The PlateRanger ALPR system does not replace good, traditional police work or the investigative process. Instead, it gives deputies an additional tool to identify vehicles of interest, develop leads, and carry out their law enforcement responsibilities more efficiently in an increasingly technology-driven environment.
The PlateRanger system has led to immediate investigative success for Onslow County. Below are several examples of how the system has been used.
-Assisted in identifying a vehicle involved in a drug-related high-speed chase exceeding 100 mph.
-Identified a suspect vehicle involved in a drive-by shooting
-Identified a scam involving a Lyft driver from South Carolina
-Multiple felony arrest warrants have been issued from using the system
-Located the victim and witness involved in a shooting.
Sheriff Thomas would like to assure citizens the agency will continue to follow federal, state, and local laws, including North Carolina general statutes regarding criminal investigations, data privacy, and retention records.
“Protecting our community and protecting the constitutional rights of the people we serve are not competing responsibilities,” Sheriff Thomas said. “We have an obligation to do both, and I will continue to do so to the best of my abilities as Sheriff.”
The technology, known as PlateRanger, is an ALPR system that uses cameras to capture license plate information and compare that information against specific law enforcement databases. The technology is designed to help deputies and investigators recover stolen vehicles, locate missing persons, identify victims or suspects, and investigate serious crimes.
PlateRanger is a law enforcement tool and does not replace the need for deputies to have lawful grounds for enforcement action. Deputies remain responsible for following applicable laws, department policies, and training when taking enforcement action, and may only use the system during an active criminal investigation.
“We understand that whenever law enforcement introduces new technology, people have questions about privacy, civil liberties, and how that technology will be used,” said Sheriff Thomas. “Our community deserves straight answers, and we want to be transparent about how PlateRanger is used.”
[How It Works]
The PlateRanger cameras capture images of license plates and vehicles traveling on public roadways and record the tag, make and model, color, and direction of travel. The image is then run against a database of license plate numbers associated with ongoing investigations. If the license plate hits the database, deputies are alerted. If not, the data is stored for 30 days, then deleted.
The data is stored on secure servers where the Sheriff’s Office controls access to only members trained to use it, with safeguards designed to prevent unauthorized access or misuse.
The Sheriff’s Office also has a ALPR policy that citizens can view on the Sheriff’s Office website at onslowsheriffnc.gov or through the free Sheriff’s Office App.
[What It Does Not Do]
PlateRanger does not identify the vehicle's occupants or have Bluetooth or facial recognition capabilities to track vehicles, and deputies do not continuously monitor the system or the movement of law-abiding citizens.
The Sheriff’s Office recognizes that new technology can raise legitimate questions within the community. As technology advances, so do the methods criminals use to commit crimes and evade detection.
The PlateRanger ALPR system does not replace good, traditional police work or the investigative process. Instead, it gives deputies an additional tool to identify vehicles of interest, develop leads, and carry out their law enforcement responsibilities more efficiently in an increasingly technology-driven environment.
The PlateRanger system has led to immediate investigative success for Onslow County. Below are several examples of how the system has been used.
-Assisted in identifying a vehicle involved in a drug-related high-speed chase exceeding 100 mph.
-Identified a suspect vehicle involved in a drive-by shooting
-Identified a scam involving a Lyft driver from South Carolina
-Multiple felony arrest warrants have been issued from using the system
-Located the victim and witness involved in a shooting.
Sheriff Thomas would like to assure citizens the agency will continue to follow federal, state, and local laws, including North Carolina general statutes regarding criminal investigations, data privacy, and retention records.
“Protecting our community and protecting the constitutional rights of the people we serve are not competing responsibilities,” Sheriff Thomas said. “We have an obligation to do both, and I will continue to do so to the best of my abilities as Sheriff.”
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