QR-only or camera. Pick what fits the lot.
Curb runs in both modes. Small lots with friendly traffic do fine on QR-only signage and a phone-based patrol. Lots near downtown foot traffic want a camera. Here's the honest tradeoff.
QR-only
No hardware. Signage and a phone.
How enforcement works
- Driver scans entry QR, types plate, picks business
- Host validates from a tablet (or in-store sticker)
- Walks the lot once or twice per shift via /admin/patrol on a phone
- Patrol catches non-scanners; one tap dispatches tow
Best for
- Small lots under 40 spots
- Recurring-customer lots (regulars)
- Lots with low non-customer walk-by traffic
- Pilots that need to launch in under a week
Honest limits
- Won't catch a freeloader who never scans
- Patrol requires staff time (~5 min twice per shift)
- No automatic monthly leaseholder recognition
LPR camera
IP camera at entry, plate-recognition cloud, automatic everything.
How enforcement works
- Camera reads plate at entry, opens a session automatically
- Active monthly leaseholders silently auto-validated
- Unknown plates trigger 5-min soft window, then warn-SMS, then tow
- Zero staff time on enforcement after install
Best for
- Lots over 40 spots
- High walk-by traffic (downtown, near events)
- Lots with monthly leaseholders who want silent entry
- Operators who don't want staff time on enforcement
Honest limits
- Needs power + network at the entry post
- Plate-recognition not perfect (~97% under good light)
- Camera setup adds 1-2 days to launch
Two signs, one phone.
The whole shopping list. No camera, no on-prem server, no rolling subscription beyond the platform itself.
| Item | Spec | Source | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry sign | 18×24 aluminum composite, vinyl printed, Va. § 46.2-1231 legal text, QR code, mounted at every entrance | FastSigns Charlottesville or Image360 | $120–180 / sign |
| QR sticker · in-store | 4×4 vinyl sticker for the host stand, per tenant | Local print shop | $8 each |
| Host tablet | iPad (9th gen or newer) for staff validation | Apple refurb or Best Buy | $200–329 |
| Tablet stand + cable | Locking stand with USB-C pass-through | Amazon | ~$50 |
| Patrol phone | Any iPhone or Android (a staffer's existing phone works) | n/a | $0 |
| Typical all-in for a single-entrance lot | $400–700 | ||
Plus ongoing platform fees (see /pricing). No camera subscription.
One camera at the entry. That's it.
For most BRCG-pilot lots, one camera at the single entrance is enough. Plate Recognizer Stream handles the OCR in the cloud and posts a webhook to Curb on every plate read.
Reolink RLC-820A
- 4K, 8MP, fixed lens
- Built-in IR for night
- PoE or wall power
- Works out-of-box with Plate Recognizer Stream
- Mountable in 30 min on a wall, post, or ceiling
What we'd install at Main Street Market on day one. Good enough for a 30-spot lot with a single entry.
Hikvision DS-2CD7A26G0/P-IZS
- ANPR-specific firmware
- Variable zoom for distance flexibility
- Built-in plate decode (Curb still routes through Plate Recognizer)
- Industrial-grade housing
- Needs licensed integrator for warranty
Good for higher-traffic lots where read accuracy matters at night and in rain.
Axis P1455-LE
- ANPR-optimized lens
- Forensic Wide Dynamic Range
- 5-year warranty
- What Metropolis-grade municipal garages use
- Overkill for a single private lot
Only worth it if you're running a portfolio of lots or want pro-grade redundancy.
Plus monthly software
| Service | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Plate Recognizer Stream | Cloud OCR · unlimited reads per camera · webhook to Curb | $35 / cam / mo |
| Plate Recognizer Snapshot (alternative) | Pay-per-lookup model, better for very low-traffic lots | $75 / mo for 50k lookups |
| Cellular fallback (optional) | If your lot doesn't have WiFi at the entry | $15 / mo · T-Mobile or Verizon home LTE |
Install requirements
- Power at the entry. Either a PoE switch from indoors, or a wall outlet within 50ft. About $80 of cable if running new.
- Network. WiFi reaching the entry, ethernet, or LTE fallback. WiFi is usually sufficient for one camera.
- Line of sight. Camera mounted 8-12ft up, angled to see the front plate of a vehicle pulling in. Avoid direct sun and headlight glare.
- Outdoor housing. Included on the Reolink and Hikvision picks. Axis needs a separate enclosure.
- Local labor. An electrician or low-voltage installer can do this in 1-2 hours. About $150 in Cville.
Start QR-only. Add a camera in week 4 if patrol can't keep up.
For Black Cow's lot at Main Street Market: signage + a tablet + patrol gets you to a working pilot in five business days. If the first month shows you're catching freeloaders before they cost you anything, stay QR-only. If you're missing five or more per week, add a Reolink at the entry. Same platform, no re-architecting.