Abstract: A method for obtaining a license plate number for use in a system that images a license plate and converts a license plate number in the license plate image to text includes substituting at least one voice derived character in the text. A method of matching a license plate number includes receiving a license plate number, receiving a confidence level indicator, comparing the received license plate number with license plate numbers in a list, and where a number of alphanumeric characters of the received license plate number match characters of a license plate number in the search list such that the percentage of characters matched exceeds the confidence level, declaring a match.