ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SoundThinking, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSTI), a leading public safety technology provider, today announced new evidence integrity, outcomes and auditing capabilities for PlateRanger™, powered by Rekor®. The enhancements build on PlateRanger's incident-based data retention technology, offered for the past two years and now backed by a U.S. patent awarded to Rekor in March 2026.
License plate recognition provides significant investigative value, but agencies and communities increasingly expect stronger safeguards governing what vehicle data is retained, how long it is kept and how it is used. PlateRanger is built on a simple premise: not every plate read needs to be treated the same.
PlateRanger allows agencies to establish retention periods based on the investigative relevance of vehicle data. For example, routine plate reads could be automatically deleted after just two days, while records associated with stolen vehicles, AMBER Alerts or other qualifying investigative activity could be retained for 90 days or longer, according to agency-defined policies. Rekor's patented technology enables this differentiated retention based on the severity of suspected criminal activity.
By limiting unnecessary retention of data about everyday drivers while preserving valuable investigative information, we believe PlateRanger helps agencies balance public safety with privacy and community trust. Importantly, PlateRanger data is always owned by the agency—not the technology provider. Each agency controls its data-sharing policies, including which partners can access information and whether to participate in broader sharing networks.
“In Bellflower, we expect our public safety technology to be both effective and responsible,” said Brian McNerney, Director of Public Safety for the City of Bellflower, CA. “PlateRanger has helped our law enforcement partner, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, identify vehicles involved in street racing and street takeovers, which put lives at risk in our neighborhoods. But protecting our community also means respecting the privacy of people going about their daily lives, and the system lets the Sheriff’s Department do both. That’s how we earn and keep our residents’ trust.”
As generative AI and synthetic media raise new questions about digital evidence, law enforcement agencies increasingly need ways to verify that video footage is authentic. GoSecure, an upcoming capability for PlateRanger Edge Max cameras and cameras powered by Axis Agent, will cryptographically authenticate video at the point of capture, helping investigators and prosecutors establish confidence in its integrity.
PlateRanger Outcomes, now available, connects LPR alerts to measurable results, including arrests, recovered vehicles and cases assisted. An agency-wide dashboard helps supervisors assess the system's contribution to investigations and public safety, providing greater visibility into the value of their LPR deployments.
Enhanced auditing capabilities give agencies greater visibility into how PlateRanger is used, including administrative and configuration activity. These enhancements build on existing safeguards such as role-based access, search justification and audit trails, helping agencies monitor system use and demonstrate adherence to their policies.
“The debate around license plate recognition is too often framed as public safety versus privacy. It doesn't have to be,” said Ralph Clark, President and CEO of SoundThinking. “Routine vehicle data with no investigative relevance shouldn't be retained unnecessarily, while information tied to legitimate public safety needs should remain available to investigators. We believe responsible LPR means more than protecting data. It also means ensuring evidence integrity, demonstrating measurable outcomes and giving agencies transparency and control over how the technology is used.”
Attendees at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and Exposition in Orlando, Fla., can learn more about PlateRanger at Booth 1109 during the exposition, Oct. 25–27, 2026. Agencies can also request a demonstration at SoundThinking.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding the potential ability of PlateRanger to balance public safety with privacy and community trust. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "should," "believe," "target," "project," "goals," "estimate," "potential," "predict," "may," "will," "could," "intend," or variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the company’s control. The company’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: the effect of the announcement of the potential acquisition of the company on the company’s business relationships, including with partners, customers and employees; the diversion of the company’s management’s time and attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the impact of global macroeconomic conditions on the company’s business; as well as other risk factors included in the company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other SEC filings. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.
About SoundThinking
SoundThinking, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSTI) is a leading public safety technology company that delivers AI- and data-driven solutions for law enforcement, civic leadership, and security professionals. SoundThinking is trusted by approximately 300 customers and supports approximately 2,100 agencies to drive more efficient, effective, and equitable public safety outcomes. The company’s SafetySmart™ platform includes ShotSpotter®, the leading acoustic gunshot detection system; CrimeTracer™, the leading law enforcement search engine; SafePointe®, an AI-based weapons detection system; PlateRanger™ (powered by Rekor®), a leading ALPR solution; and Field Agent™, an AI layer that transforms public safety data into actionable intelligence. SoundThinking has been designated a Great Place to Work® Company.
Company Contact:
Alan Stewart, CFO
SoundThinking, Inc.
+1 (510) 794-3100
astewart@soundthinking.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Ankit Hira
Solebury Strategic Communications for SoundThinking, Inc.
+1 (203) 546-0444
SSTI@soleburystrat.com
Source: SoundThinking, Inc.
