This article explains how to use the **Search Vehicles** function on the OPSCOM enforcement application. This feature is the primary tool for field personnel to look up vehicle information by license plate or VIN, verify parking permit status, and initiate enforcement actions. This guide is intended for operators of OPSCOM handheld units.
## Using this Feature The Vehicle Search function is a core component of the handheld application and does not require special configuration. **Connection Status Indicator** A colored dot at the top of the search panel indicates the device's connection status: - **Green Dot:** The unit is connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network (3G/LTE). - **Yellow Dot:** The unit is not connected. Searches can still be performed using cached data, but the information may not be real-time. ### Performing a Vehicle Search From the main menu, **tap** **Search Vehicles**. There are three methods for entering vehicle information: text input, voice command, and the device camera (LPR/OCR). ##### Text Search - On the Vehicle Search screen, tap the text field to activate the on-screen keypad. - Enter the full license plate number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). - **Tap** the **Search** button. ##### Voice Search - **Tap** the **microphone** icon to activate the voice recognition feature. - When the prompt appears, clearly speak the license plate number. The system will transcribe the speech into the search field. - **Tap** the **Search** button. ##### LPR/OCR Camera Search - **Tap** the **camera** icon to enter LPR (License Plate Recognition) search mode. - Position the device's camera so the vehicle's license plate is aligned within the on-screen rectangle. - **Tap and hold** the screen to capture an image of the plate. - The system will analyze the image and display a list of possible plate numbers. - **Tap** the correct plate number from the list to initiate the search. ### Reviewing Search Results After a successful search, the vehicle and permit details will appear below the search area. Tapping on the vehicle record expands a yellow ribbon, revealing available actions. ##### Available Actions & Buttons - **Virtual Chalk:** **Tap** this button to apply a virtual chalk to the vehicle, logging its current location and time for time-limit enforcement. - **Issue Violation:** **Tap** this button to proceed directly to the violation issuance screen for this vehicle. - **Details:** **Tap** this button to view a comprehensive screen with all permit and vehicle details. You can also **tap** directly on the permit information displayed under the license plate for a quick view of its expiry details. --- ### Best Practices & Considerations - **Offline searches are possible** thanks to the device's data cache, but always connect to a network when possible to ensure you are working with the most current data. - For best results with the **LPR/OCR camera search**, ensure the license plate is well-lit, clean, and fills as much of the alignment rectangle as possible. - For the most accurate **voice search** results, speak clearly in an environment with minimal background noise. # Search Vehicle Results - OPSCOM Enforce AppThis article is a continuation of the *Vehicle Search* and explains how to interpret the results after looking up a vehicle. Understanding the information presented is crucial for verifying parking rights, reviewing a vehicle's history, and making informed enforcement decisions. This guide is intended for personnel using OPSCOM handheld units.
### Understanding the Results Screen After performing a search, the application presents detailed information in a multi-layered interface, starting with a summary and allowing you to access more specific details. ### Results Summary Immediately after a successful search, a list of potential plate matches is shown while a summary for the vehicles are displayed. This initial view typically shows the license plate, Province/State, and type of vehicle (passenger, commercial, etc.). ### Quick Actions **Tapping** on the vehicle record in the results list expands a More Details section, revealing more information on the make, model, color of car (if available), details on the violation history, and a set of quick action buttons. \[Image showing the More Details section with action buttons\] - **Chalk:** Initiates the *Virtual Chalking* workflow for time-limit enforcement. - **Violation:** Proceeds directly to the *Issuing a Violation* screen for the selected vehicle. - **Details:** Opens a comprehensive screen with the vehicle's complete history. ##### Details For a complete overview of a vehicle's record, **tap** the **Details** button. This screen provides an in-depth history organized into three distinct tabs, Current Permits, Violations, and Recent Chalk Records.The **Details** screen is the central hub for all historical data related to a vehicle in the OPSCOM system. Reviewing the information on these tabs provides a complete picture before taking any enforcement action.
##### Current Permits This tab displays a complete list of all current permits associated with the license plate. Each entry provides key information such as the permit type, its validity period (start and end dates), and the specific lots where it is valid. ##### Violations This tab provides a historical log of all violations previously issued to the vehicle. For each entry, you can review the violation date, type of infraction, and its current status (e.g., paid, outstanding). When reviewing a vehicle’s violation details, you will see two key summary numbers at the top. These two lines serve different—but critical—purposes for understanding enforcement policies. 1\. **All-Time Violations** (Total Paid, Unpaid, and Warnings) - This count includes every non-spoiled violation the vehicle has ever received and will match the count in More Details on the main search results screen. This all-time total may be higher than the actual list of violations visible on the page. This is because the list is *filtered* by the Violation History on Handhelds setting (e.g., only the last 6 months), while this summary counts *everything*. 2\. **History Period Violations** (Violations within the current window) - This count only includes violations that occurred within the date range set in System Settings > Violations > Violation History on Handhelds. Example: Your system may be set to boot a car after 5 violations. If your policy is to enforce this *per year* (last 12 months), this number tells you the relevant total (e.g., 3 violations in the last 12 months) even if the All-Time total is 10. This ensures officers apply policies correctly without counting ancient history. ##### Recent Chalk Records This tab shows a history of all *Virtual Chalking* events for the vehicle. It serves as a log to track time-limit enforcement, displaying the date, time, and location of each chalking instance. --- ## Best Practices & Considerations - **Always review all three tabs** in the **Details** screen to get a complete vehicle history before issuing a violation. A pattern of previous violations or chalks can provide important context for enforcement. - When checking the **Permits** tab, pay close attention to the **valid dates and lot assignments** for each permit to ensure the vehicle is compliant at the current time and location. - The accuracy of the data depends on the device's last synchronization. A **green connection dot** indicates you are viewing real-time information, while a **yellow dot** means the data is from the device's local cache.