Examples are presented of the use of machine vision technology for reading and processing vehicle license plate images acquired in the field by video camcorders. Applications include travel time and microscale origin-destination pattern analyses for a freeway interchange in Tampa and the road network serving Houston's Intercontinental Airport, and high-occupancy vehicle lane performance measurements in Seattle. It is concluded that video and machine vision analysis of license plates is an effective and efficient means of conducting a wide variety of traffic engineering and traffic management studies.