Incident Guides / Drive-offs

Gas-Station Cameras for Drive-Off Investigations

A drive-off investigation needs more than a plate. The strongest evidence links the vehicle and person at the pump to the same vehicle leaving through a controlled exit view.

Best evidence chain: pump interaction → vehicle context → exit direction → dedicated plate lane when plate evidence matters.

Pump cameras provide context

Use pump-area cameras to show the vehicle, person, pump number and sequence of the interaction. Do not expect a wide forecourt overview to reliably read plates under every lighting condition.

Put plate capture at the choke point

If vehicles exit through a predictable lane, use that geometry to control horizontal/vertical angle, target distance and exposure. Our plate-angle calculator applies the same sub-30° planning rule used in published license-plate guidance.

Night testing is mandatory

Canopy lighting, headlights, reflective plates and dark roadway edges can coexist in one scene. Commission the plate lane after dark and verify shutter/exposure separately from the pump overview.