The invention relates to a method for recording a traffic violation in which a vehicle is involved, by detecting the violation, making a record of the violation, and searching for and reading from the record a license plate of the vehicle involved in the violation. During making of the record position information of the vehicle is herein recorded, and on the basis of this information a search is made for the license plate in only a part of the record. The recorded position information can comprise the travel direction of the vehicle, or the lane in which the vehicle is located. The record can be a picture record wherein a search for the license plate is made, on the basis of the recorded travel direction, only in a left or right-hand half or, on the basis of the recorded position information, only in a narrow strip. The invention also relates to a system for performing the method.