Plate and Vehicle Alarms

OPSCOM'sThe OPS-COM alarm system provides critical real-time notifications for specific events, such as when a flagged vehicle beingis scanned or a user triggeringtriggers a security alert. Its primary purpose is to help administrators and field officers rapidly identify and respond to vehicles of interest. This article guidesis intended for OPS-COM administrators onand setting up the necessary permissions to view these alarms, as well asdetails how to configure permissions, attach, manage, and clear Plate Alarmsplate and Vehiclevehicle Alarmsalarms for both profilesprofiled withusers and withoutunprofiled associated user accounts.vehicles.

Setup &and Configuration

System Settings

ThereTo areutilize aplate numberand ofvehicle alarms, administrators must configure the baseline system settings youand canassign changethe onappropriate dispatch permissions to administrative roles.

System Settings

1. Hover over System Configuration and click System Settings.

2. Navigate to the Alarms tab. 

   • Configure the Vehicle Alarm Append Threshold -to set the number of minutes before ana new alarm will createcreates a new dispatch log entry instead of appending to an existing one.

   • Configure the Plate Alarm Dispatch SubID - Youto canestablish setconsistency across your dispatch logs.

   • Enter the subIDapproved foremail consistency.

   addresses
   • into the Allowed Alert Emails -field Youto enterspecify thewhich addresses of theexternal systems thatare willpermitted beto populatingpopulate alerts into OPSCOM.OPS-COM.
     To add recipients of alerts, use the setting in this wiki article.

To enable administrators to view and manage alarms, proper dispatch permissions must be configured for their roles.

Setting up Alarm Permissions

1. Hover

   1. Click over System Configuration, Configurationthen and click Admin Management,Management and click then Manage Roles.

   2. Select

      Click the Permissions button next to the administrative role you wish to modifymodify.

      by clicking its Permissions button.
   3. Within the 

      Navigate to the Dispatch category within the Editing Permissions screen, underscreen.

      the Dispatch category,
   select

   4. Enable the permissions related to alarms 

      • View License Plate alarms
      ,
      • Receive License Plate alarms via email
      ,
      • View People alarms
      ,
      • and Receive People Plate alarms via email
      checkboxes.

   5. Click 

      Click the Save Permissions button at the bottom of the page whento youapply arethe finished.

   changes.

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Using this Feature

Understanding

Plate Alarms

Plate Alarmsalarms are triggered automatically whenever a flagged license plate with an associated alarm is scanned or read by the system.

This

Understanding includes:Plate Alarms

Alarms will trigger from the following sources:

• Fixed CamerasCameras:: Entrance and exit cameras.cameras scanning a lot.

• Handheld Violation EntriesEntries:: ByManual citation entries by officers in the field.

• LPR Camera ReadsReads:: MobileBoth mobile and static LPRLicense Plate Recognition systems.

When a Plate Alarm is triggered, a "ding" sound is typically made (for mobile LPR units), and an alert appears in the OPSCOMOPS-COM system.system, You can also configureand an emailaudible addressding tosounds sendfor alarmofficers detailsusing to.mobile LPR units. If a fixed camera triggers the alarm, the specific camera's name will be listed.listed in the alert.

Manually ChalkingManually Vehicleschalking vehicles from the handheld unit does not trigger an alert. Only LPR reads and violation entries initiate the alarm sequence.

Attaching an Alarm to a Plate Without a Profile

Plates can exist in the system without a full user profile if they are initially entered via:

• Issuingvia a Newnew Violation, Violation Warning, or Chalking Record through the handheld or admin side.
• Linking the plate to an Incident from the admin side.

If you search for a plate on the handheld that doesn't exist in the system, you'll see a black plus symbol indicating the vehicle is new. On the admin side, when issuingviolation, a violation warning, a chalking record, or creating an incident,incident you'll have an option to add a new vehicle and its information, which is where the alarm can be added.report.

To add an alarm to a plate without a profile, there must be an existing incident, violation, or warning associated with the plate. If a plate only has a chalking record,record associated with it, you will need tomust issue a violation to it or link it to an incident to access the vehicle information fields required to add an alarm. Chalking records alone do not provide a direct optionedit access to view or edit vehicle details.

Steps to Add an Alarm to a Plate Without a Profile

1. Find the

   Hover Plate:

   • Clickover Violations,Violations and click Vehicles then Vehicles, and click Search by Plate.

   • Enter the Platetarget youplate wishand to addexecute the alarmsearch.

     to (e.g., "JROCK").

   • Click the Vehicle Info icon next to the search result.

2. Add

   Click the Alarm to the Plate:

   • The Vehicle Information window will open. Click Edit Vehicle. button.

   • Toggle

     Enable the Vehicle Alarm checkboxcheckbox.

     to On. You'll see a checkmark appear.
   • Once toggled, you can add

     Enter an actionable note in the Alarm Comment infield.

     the provided field. This comment will be visible to officers and administrators when the alarm triggers.

   • Click the Update Vehicle button to apply the alarm correctly.

   alarm.

When this plate is subsequently scanned by LPR (mobile or fixed cameras), a "ding" sound will be made, alerting officers and allowing them to write a dispatch report if needed.

Adding Plate Alarms to Specific Profiled Plates (with User Profile)

If you know the user associated with the plate you wish to alarm:

1. Go to

   Hover over User Management,User Management thenand click User Search.

2. Search for and select the user's profile.

3. Click the Vehicles tab within their profile.

4. You'll see

   Click athe listtarget ofplate vehiclesto andopen theirthe associatedvehicle plates.information window.

5. Click the targetEdit plateVehicle youbutton.

   wish to alarm. This will bring up a new window with Vehicle Information.
6. Follow Steps 1-3 from "Adding the Alarm to the Plate" (above) to toggle

   Enable the Vehicle Alarm, addcheckbox.

   a
comment,
7. and

   Enter your note in the Alarm Comment field.

8. Click the Update Vehicle. button.

Adding a Plate Alarm to All Vehicles on a User'sUser Profile

You can rapidly apply a Vehiclevehicle Alarmalarm to allevery vehiclesvehicle associated with a user's profileuser directly from their basicprimary profile information.settings.

1. Go to

   Hover over User Management,Management thenand click User Search.

2. Search for and select the user's profile.

3. Click the Edit button next to the Basic Profile Information section.

4. On the user's profile page, you should see two checkboxes: Plate alarm and People alarm.
5. Toggle

   Enable the Plate alarm checkboxcheckbox.

   to On.
6. Add a

   Enter your alert message in the comment thatfield.

   will be used for this alert.

7. Click the Update button to apply the alarms.

The The People Alarms and License Plate Alarms for this user will share the exact same message if both are toggledenabled simultaneously on the user's profile.profile

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Best Practices &and Considerations

• Clear and Concise Alarm CommentsComments:: UseAlways use brief, highly actionable comments that(e.g., conveyDO NOT APPROACH - WARRANT, LOST/STOLEN PERMIT, CONTACT OWNER). This ensures essential information quicklyis conveyed immediately to officers and administrators (e.g.,without "DOambiguity.

  NOT APPROACH - WARRANT," "LOST/STOLEN PERMIT," "CONTACT OWNER").
• Permission Management: Ensure that only authorized personnel have the ability to set and clear alarms due to their critical nature.
• System Settings for Alarms: Review global alarm settings under System Settings (e.g., Alarm Duration, Email Address for alerts, Generic Alarm Append Threshold) to ensure they align with your operational needs.

• Understanding Alarm Roll-UpUp:: Be aware that multipleMultiple alarms triggered for the exact same plate/plate or profile willare beautomatically rolled up into a single dispatch log entry within a 30-minute windowwindow. toThis avoidprevents redundant notifications from flooding the system withduring redundantan notifications.active event.

• ManuallyPermission TriggeredManagement: vs. Automated: UnderstandEnsure that manualonly chalking does not trigger alerts, but LPR readsauthorized and violationtrained entriespersonnel do.have the ability to set and clear alarms due to the critical nature of these alerts.

• Regular ReviewReview:: Periodically review active alarms and dispatch logs to ensure field officers are responding timely responses and to manually clear alarms that are no longer relevantoperationally torelevant.

  keep the system efficient.