Editorial
It’s been awhile since we’ve done a poll and there has been a lot of chatter over the past year about the use of License Plate Recognition (LPR) in the press, most of which has been about its legality. In the meanwhile, a very different series of conversations has been taking place within the repossession industry where many agency owners have questions about the role they serve in data collection and their profitability.
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I have utilized LPR pretty much from the beginning. I started with DRN when they first came out. I tried MVTRAC but went back to DRN. It certainly was a different time than it is now. That is a positive comment. I think like most of us, it was perceived as ” slap on a set of cameras and go trolling for iron”. Most of us now know it is a bit more complex than that. 5 years ago we were just fighting to survive and hoped this was our savior. DRN was the first on the block and had issues like we all did. Many took aim at the product and what was considered their bully tactics and favoritism. I was one of the people raising hell with them right here on CU Collector and any other post I could.
Like most of us who have “survived” the shift in our industry, I would like to think I have evolved in my application of LPR. I said a long time ago, LPR wont save a struggling Agency. It will if properly used, add value and profit to your agency. Historical data never made much sense to me. I can thank forwarders for making me keenly aware of this value. I know firsthand that I have recovered cars off my own database without the help of a forwarders “light skip work” . Fuel is our enemy and it took a lot of my friends out of the industry along with other things. LPR makes better use of your manpower and trucks. Live hits are still a blast to recover as it still feels like found money. I had one last week while I was meeting Brett from DRN for dinner. (We did have to pick a different restaurant) Like most everybody else I don’t feel we are being paid enough on our investments. But most of that is just griping like so many other issues in our industry.
I believe in LPR. I wouldn’t run my business without it. It is as necessary as a wheelift when we were replacing our old sling trucks. I just ordered another set last week. Let’s push for a stronger 2015 and congrats to all of us who have survived.
Scott Patterson
I have utilized LPR pretty much from the beginnig. I started with DRN when they first came out.I tried MVTRAC but went back to DRN. It certainly was a different time than it is now. That is a positive comment. I think like most of us,it was perceived as ” slap on a set of cameras and go trolling for iron”. Most of us now know it is a bit more complex than that. 5 years ago we were just fighting to survive and hoped this was our savior. DRN was the first on the block and had issues like we all did. Many took aim at the product and what was considered their bully tactics and favoritism. I was one of the people raising hell with them right here on CU Collector and any other post I could.
Like most of us who have “survived” the shift in our industry, I would like to think I have evolved in my application of LPR. I said a long time ago, LPR wont save a struggling Agency. It will if properly used, add value and profit to your agency. Historical data never made much sense to me. I can thank forwarders for making me keenly aware of this value. I know firsthand that I have recovered cars off my own database without the help of a forwarders “light skip work” . Fuel is our enemy and it took a lot of my friends out of the industry along with other things. LPR makes better use of your manpower and trucks. Live hits are still a blast to recover as it still feels like found money. i had one last week while i was meeting Brett from DRN for dinner. (We did have to pick a different restaurant) Like most everybody else I dont feel we are being paid enough on our investments. But most of that is just griping like so many other issues in our industry.
I believe in LPR. I wouldnt run my business without it. It is as necessary as a wheelift when we were replacing our old sling trucks. I just ordered another set last week. Let’s push for a stronger 2015 and congrats to all of us who have survived.
Scott Patterson
I’m always glad to take a survey, but let me add this… LPR is without question the most important tool in your tool box. We don’t go on the road without them; and any repossessor who does is liken to a lost Babe in the Woods… Seriously, if anything was to happen where LPR was no longer allowed, that would be the day I close my doors and hang up my Slim Jim….