Gas Station Pump & License Plate Camera Guide
A pump overview camera can document who was at a dispenser, but reliable plate capture usually needs a separate vehicle choke-point view with tighter geometry and exposure control.
Best evidence-zone layout
| View | Primary question | Design priority |
|---|---|---|
| Pump island overview | What happened at the dispenser? | Stable fixed view with overlapping context |
| Vehicle choke point | Which vehicle entered or exited? | Narrower FOV and controlled plate angle |
| Store entrance | Who entered the store? | Frontal face geometry and backlight control |
Plate geometry
Keep the plate lane as straight and predictable as possible. Axis plate-capture guidance generally recommends keeping the total camera-to-vehicle angle below about 30°; use the License Plate Camera Angle Calculator to model height, lateral offset and capture distance.
Night is the real test
Headlights, reflective plates and canopy lighting can defeat a normal wide scene even when daytime footage looks excellent. Validate the actual lane after dark and treat shutter/exposure separately from the forecourt overview.
Related: full gas-station system guide · driveway plate design.
Reference: Axis license plate capture guidance.