License Plate Recognition (LPR) Technology

License Plate Recognition (LPR) is an advanced parking technology that provides virtual monthly permits through a vehicle’s license plate instead of a physical photo badge and hang tag. LPR increases parking efficiency at Georgetown University parking facilities and provides convenience for the parking customer. LPR is implemented at the 111 Mass Ave. garage. While students and visitors of Georgetown will use a QR code to access the 111 Mass Ave. garage, faculty and staff with monthly parking passes will enter via LPR. The technology allows you to enter the garage without stopping and scanning a pass, and is based on your license plate number provided during parking enrollment.

When a vehicle enters the garage, the rear license plate is captured by cameras mounted in the parking lanes. LPR works similar to a supermarket scanner with your license plate functioning as the barcode. When read, the numbers of your plate are automatically referenced against the parking database to verify a valid monthly permit and the proper parking privileges. If the license plate and vehicle information are not associated with a valid monthly parking account, daily parking rates posted in the garage will apply.

Currently, 111 Mass Ave. is the only garage that utilizes LPR. The Office of Transportation Management is evaluating plans to expand the technology to additional garages in the future.

Georgetown University LPR camera uses a rear license capture in 111 Mass Ave. 

• Eliminates the need to have a physical badge and hang tag
• Lost or stolen permits and the associated replacement fees will no longer apply
• No more forgetting your badge
• Faster entrance/exit times, no need to roll down the window and swipe a badge

The license plate information collected in this process will only be referenced against Georgetown University’s database for the strict purposes of verifying monthly parking permits.

When you enroll in monthly parking in GMS, you will be asked to provide your license plate number. 

If you have a personalized plate with less than 7 characters, or if you have a special character within your plate (heart, star, etc.), please skip the special character when entering the number into the system and simply include the remaining characters on the plate.

Please email otm@georgetown.edu. 

Please email otm@georgetown.edu so that we can ensure the parking access technology works. You can also use the QR code for entry that will be emailed to all parkers when registering for parking.

Individuals can register up to two vehicles under the same virtual monthly permit. The LPR technology will recognize the first vehicle in the garage as valid. Two vehicles listed under the same virtual permit may only be in the garage at the same time if the second vehicle purchases daily parking.

You will be given a QR code when you enroll in monthly parking to be used as a back-up.

Georgetown community members will be able to provide parking for external visitors via the portal. More information will be shared soon. If you need a parking pass for an external visitor, please email otm@georgetown.edu to make arrangements in the interim.

If your plates are legal for driving, our system will be able to read them.

If you have a new vehicle with a temporary paper license, please provide OTM with the last 7 digits of your vehicle’s VIN number in place of the license plate number. Once your DMV-issued license plates have arrived, you will be required to immediately update your information with OTM. You can also use the QR code for entry that will be emailed to all parkers when registering for parking.

The LPR system has difficulty recognizing vehicles listed on multiple monthly permit accounts. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend only listing your vehicle on your own monthly permit account. If the vehicle has a valid virtual monthly permit, listing the vehicle on another account is not necessary

All permits are non-transferable and can only be used by the individual on the account. Monthly parking privileges will be revoked for any individuals found sharing virtual permits or are in violation of Georgetown University Parking Rules and Regulations.

If your primary parking garage is on the Hilltop Campus (i.e. Hariri, Southwest Garage, etc.), you have permission to reciprocal parking at 111 Mass Ave. when you visit the Capitol Campus. In order for the parking technology to function properly, please email otm@georgetown.edu if you plan to use reciprocal parking.