Context
Common questions from property managers and residents about how license plate recognition works.
Does LPR log plates even when access is denied?
Yes. Every LPR event is logged in Door Releases with an access decision of unlocked or denied. Unauthorized vehicles appear with their captured plate, a release type of Visitor, and a name of Unknown.
Does LPR work at night?
Yes. The LPR Bullet Cameras include IR illumination and are optimized for low light. Nighttime capture is fully supported and does not require manual configuration.
Does LPR log vehicles leaving as well as entering?
That depends on your camera layout. If cameras are installed at both entrance and exit lanes, both directions are captured and logged.
If a vehicle tailgates behind an authorized vehicle, is it captured?
Yes. Every vehicle the camera detects gets its own event in Door Releases, not just the authorized one.
Can LPR tell the difference between multiple vehicles on the same unit?
Yes. Each vehicle generates its own event showing the specific plate, any vehicle details on file, and the resident it belongs to.
Can LPR recognize police, fire, or ambulance vehicles?
Not automatically. LPR reads plate characters on any vehicle but does not identify vehicle type. Properties can add local first responder vehicles as authorized vehicles.
How long does it take to read a plate and open the gate?
Under normal conditions, detection, recognition, and gate triggering happen within seconds.
Does LPR work during an internet outage?
Yes. The camera, gateway, and controller communicate over the local network, so access control continues without an internet connection as long as the local network remains available. Event logs sync to the ButterflyMX OS once connectivity is restored.
Do LPR cameras work as regular security cameras?
Yes. They record continuously and stream live in the ButterflyMX OS. Recording drops to a lower resolution during periods without activity and captures in high resolution when a vehicle event is detected.
Can we use our existing cameras?
Third party ONVIF cameras may be compatible, and all recognition processing happens in the AI Camera Gateway regardless of camera brand. However, results depend on the image quality the camera provides and have not been validated. The ButterflyMX LPR Bullet Camera is strongly recommended for any camera capturing plates.
Do existing ButterflyMX camera customers need new hardware?
You will need the AI Camera Gateway, which handles all plate recognition processing. Existing two-door controllers can typically be reused. Older ButterflyMX cameras may not deliver reliable plate capture, particularly at night.
How many cameras does one gateway support?
Up to 10 cameras, which can be a mix of LPR and standard cameras on the same local network.
What happens in states that do not require front plates?
Install the camera to capture rear plates so every vehicle is detected. Even in states that require front plates, rear capture is often more reliable if your property expects out of state vehicles.
Does LPR connect to police, DMV, or other external databases?
No. The system does not perform external database lookups and does not share data with law enforcement or any outside agency. Plates are compared only against the authorized list maintained in your ButterflyMX OS.
Can we identify an unknown driver from their plate?
No. The system only shows identification details for vehicles already authorized in your account. For unauthorized plates, you will see the plate number and event details only.
Is license plate data secure?
Yes. License plate data is encrypted and is not shared with third parties.
How accurate is LPR?
Actual performance varies by site, based on camera placement and angle, lighting, weather and glare, and the condition of the plate itself, which is why correct placement is critical. See the LPR Access Implementation Guide for placement requirements. If a plate is not read, residents can still enter using Swipe to Open in the ButterflyMX app, similar to how a phone falls back to a PIN when face unlock does not work.