License Plate Recognition (LPR)

License plate recognition, or LPR, has been one of the major advancements in parking over the past few years. It is a camera-based computer hardware system that captures images of vehicle license plates, translates them into digital characters, and matches this information against a database. Subscribers will no longer need a physical parking permit, as parking access will be granted using their license plate.

How will it work?

LPR cameras will be installed in each parking deck. Upon entering the parking deck, the cameras scan a vehicle's license plates for validation. Once this information is confirmed, the gates will rise for entry in seconds. Additionally, mobile LPR cameras will be installed on enforcement vehicles. As enforcement officers roam each facility, they will be notified if a vehicle is not supposed to be parked in a specific location.

While only one vehicle per subscriber may be parked in a VCU parking facility at any given time, employees who drive multiple vehicles may add up to three vehicles to their parking permit. Students may add two vehicles.

Vehicles can be managed in the online parking portal at https://vcu.t2hosted.com/Account/Portal. 

How to update your vehicle(s) online:

• Visit https://vcu.t2hosted.com/ and click "LOGIN" in the top right corner, then "VCU/VCUHS LOGIN."
• Follow VCU authentication protocol.
• Under "Permits," select "View Your Permits."
• Select your VCU parking permit and scroll down to "Associated Vehicles."
• Select "Add Vehicle to Permit" to enter a new vehicle. To remove a vehicle from your permit, click "Delete" and confirm.

Please note employees can only connect three vehicles to a permit; students may connect two vehicles.

View Instructions for updating your vehicle online

LPR offers several unique benefits, including:

• Improved enforcement of parking facilities
• Less visits to customer service offices
• No more fees for lost permits
• Environmental-friendly option

Yes! You may still enter your parking deck by scanning your VCU ID card; however, you would need to ensure that, when parking, your vehicle's license plate faces the drive lane.

VCU Parking and Transportation is expected to transition to LPR on August 1, 2023.

Here’s what’s changing:

• No more physical parking permits, as your license plate is your permit
• Upgraded equipment
• Subscribers will be responsible for managing (add/remove) their vehicles online
• Subscribers will need to park with their license plate facing the drive lane

Here’s what’s staying the same:

• The gates will remain in all decks
• You can still access your parking facility by your VCU ID card if necessary
• You can still press the “i” button in all decks for assistance
• Visitors/hourly parking customers will still pull a ticket upon entering visitor decks

If you carpool to campus, you will still be able to link multiple owners to your carpool permit.

You have access to manage all of the vehicles associated with your permit. As with any vehicle you drive, upon logging in to your account, you will need to add the information for your rental car and attach it to your permit; then, remove it from your account when the rental period is over.

Our LPR readers will perform front reads of license plates. If your vehicle has just one license plate, you can purchase a vanity plate from our offices for a nominal fee or use your VCU ID card to enter and exit the deck. If using your VCU ID card, you would need to ensure that your vehicle is parked with the license plate facing the drive lane so that it can be read by our mobile LPR units.