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The Differences Between Alerts, Plate, Vehicle Alarms and DNTT

The OPS-COM system provides distinct flagging features—Alerts, Plate and Vehicle Alarms, and Do Not Ticket or Tow (DNTT) statuses—to help administrators and field officers identify specific vehicles during patrols. Understanding the operational differences between these statuses ensures that vehicles are appropriately monitored or properly exempted from enforcement. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators responsible for managing vehicle profiles and dispatch operations.

Setup and Configuration

These flagging tools are configured directly on individual vehicle profiles within the administrative portal.

Configuring DNTT

The DNTT feature allows administrators to schedule enforcement exemptions and restrict them to specific physical locations.

  1. Navigate to the relevant Vehicle Profile in the administration portal.

  2. Locate the DNTT configuration section.

  3. Enter the Start Date and End Date to define the exact validity period of the exemption.

  4. Specify the applicable Location if the exemption is site-specific.

  5. Click the Save button to apply the status.

Configuring Alerts and Alarms

Alerts and Alarms are general security and monitoring flags that are not limited by schedule or location.

  1. Navigate to the relevant Vehicle Profile.

  2. Locate the Alerts/Alarms configuration section.

  3. Enter the necessary details or select the appropriate alarm type from the drop-down menu.

  4. Click the Save button to activate the flag.

Unlike DNTT statuses that expire based on a schedule, standard Alerts and Alarms remain active indefinitely until they are manually removed by an administrator.

Using this Feature

Administrators and enforcement personnel interact with these features primarily through handheld scanning devices or License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras in the field.

Visual Cues and Status Indicators

  • DNTT Status: When a vehicle with an active DNTT status is scanned, a red exclamation mark icon appears on the handheld device screen. No audible alarm will sound, allowing the officer to silently bypass the vehicle.

  • Alerts and Alarms: When a vehicle with an active Alert or Alarm is scanned by a handheld device or detected by an LPR camera, the system triggers an immediate visual notification and an audible alert to draw the officer's attention.

Available Actions

  • Dispatch Logs: Once an Alert or Alarm is triggered in the field, it can be converted into a Dispatch Log. This allows the security team to actively track, investigate, and document the resolution of the alert.

Best Practices and Considerations

  • Define Clear Business Rules: Organizations should establish clear policies regarding who has the authority to apply a DNTT status and the specific circumstances under which it is granted (e.g., medical exemptions, maintenance vehicles, VIP guests).

  • Maintain Accurate Records: Regularly review active Alerts and Alarms to ensure that outdated or resolved flags are removed. This prevents notification fatigue and unnecessary alerts during standard enforcement activities.

  • Utilize Dispatch Logs: Always convert triggered Alerts into Dispatch Logs to maintain a comprehensive and permanent audit trail of how security personnel responded to the field notification.

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