Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

Driving Cutting-edge Protection

February 1, 2005


Rick Case Honda in Davie, Fla., is the largest by volume Honda dealership in the world. The dealership, a parking garage, car wash and gas station all have unique security technologies
Picking up a marriage license while picking out a new car? Or stopping by a car dealership to pay for a speeding ticket? It seems strange, but these unusual scenarios happen all the time at Rick Case Honda in Davie, Fla., the largest by volume Honda dealership in the world.

Located just outside Miami, visitors often marvel at its size. The new six-floor parking garage rises in stylish white above the surrounding palm trees. The 500,000-sq. foot garage holds rows and rows of gleaming new Hondas, plus the personal vehicles of more than 300 employees.

Along with all those cars are some odd features such as a County Clerk’s office, where shoppers can obtain a marriage certificate, or, more likely, pull their driving history. Also on site is a discount gas station and car wash, services offered to customers through the Rick Case Rewards loyalty program.

Quietly working behind the scenes, a sophisticated access control system tracks every new Honda moving in and out of the parking garage. It follows every set of keys, every employee vehicle, every elevator trip, every gas fill-up and every car wash. In short, it makes sure this mega-dealership runs mega-smoothly.

The access control system and parking garage it protects are testaments to the incredible success of the business. Rick and Rita Case opened this location in early 2002 as a 350-car lot, the latest in a collection of fourteen dealerships ranging from Ohio to Florida. In just one month of operation, the dealership became the number-one volume dealer in all of Florida.

Rick and Rita Case are a phenomenon in car sales – equal-measure entrepreneurs and philanthropists, with an unwavering sense of good business. When the new dealership started selling over 1,000 vehicles a month, the Cases knew it was time to get bigger – much bigger. In late 2002, they began plans to make the Davie dealership into their flagship operation, with the grand re-opening targeted for November 2003.

A sophisticated access control system tracks every new Honda moving in and out of the parking garage at Rick Case Honda. The new cars are tracked thanks to barcodes.

Advance tracking

The original expansion plans did not include an access control system; the main deterrent to unauthorized entry would be a fence surrounding the 10-acre property. But through the design and construction process, it became clear that an advanced tracking system was needed. The owners made finding the right access control system an urgent priority.

The Cases and their team first identified critical needs for securing the parking garage. The primary goal: track new vehicles from the time they arrived until they were finally driven away by customers. Accountability for the salespeople was also an issue. Who was the last salesperson driving a particular car? How much gas had been issued to that car? Had the car been returned to the garage? The new system would need to answer all of these questions.

The Case team also wanted to track employee parking, to be designated around the garage floor perimeters. “Before the garage, employees had to hope they’d find a space when they got to work,” says Bill Sanders, building team project manager. “We wanted to assure them a guaranteed spot, give them the perk of easy parking.”

Another goal was to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the facility. This required securing the car ramp, two stairwells and two elevators that connect each floor of the garage. “We have a big thing about keeping [unauthorized people] out of the building,” Sanders explained. “We don’t want them going up there and getting injured or vandalizing cars.”

Finally, the project team wanted to improve security around new vehicle key sets. The keys are expensive, with electronic coding making each set worth about $300. A special key-storage cabinet held the keys in an office of the main building. But the office was too easy to access, with employees often gathering there for breaks and conversation.

To prevent unauthorized individuals from entering, access readers secure the car ramp, two stairwells and two elevators that connect each floor of the garage as well as the dealership building.

Access challenge

To find an access control professional capable of meeting the challenges of the new garage, the Cases and their project team looked to other high-end dealers for references. As Sanders put it, “you’re buying more than a system. The system is only as good as the people who install it.” One recommendation came from The Collection, a high-line dealer of Ferrari, Maserati and other luxury brands. The Collection had used Glanz Technologies of North Miami, Fla. to design and install their facility’s system.

Mark Glanz started Glanz Technologies in 1981, and now employs more than 20 technicians, installers and project managers. The company specializes in integrated access control and security systems, which bring together multiple functions such as badging, video cameras, security and time and attendance. The company had provided services to clients large and small, but time constraints made Rick Case Honda one of their toughest jobs ever.

“From the contract signing to the grand opening deadline was only three weeks,” said Glanz. “It was a tremendous task, one of the biggest we’ve had to handle.” Further complicating matters was the fact that the garage was still being built. Electricity, drywall, cement, asphalt, core drilling, elevators – all would be affected by the access system installation.

Accountability was also an issue so the security system even tracks how much gas had been issued to each for-sale car through the dealership gas station.
To meet the requirements of the site, Glanz chose the System Galaxy integrated access control system, designed and manufactured by Galaxy Control Systems of Walkersville, Md. He felt it would be a good fit because the Cases not only wanted a system that met current needs, but would easily expand to fit the future. “[The Cases] wanted to know, can the system expand to the thirteen other dealerships?” he explained. “Yes, the Galaxy system lends itself to that.” The Cases were also interested in incorporating time and attendance into the system at a later date, also possible with the Galaxy system.

The flexibility of the system also inspired additional design changes that were incorporated as work progressed. Originally, a separate system administered the gas station and car wash. The new system offered the possibility of integrating both, with improved tracking and monitoring as the result.

As expected, installation proved to be a massive undertaking. At first, it took six to ten workers just to pull the cable necessary for the system. Glanz used his own employees, not sub-contractors, to ensure a quality job. Conduits had to be buried between the main building, the garage and the gas station area. Holes had to be cut into concrete for readers, cameras and other equipment.

Remote workstations

On the software side, Glanz installed a Dell PowerEdge 400 server into the dealership’s server room to run the Microsoft SQL Server database. System Galaxy software was installed on eight other workstations around the facility, all tapped into the same central database. Dual-technology badges, with proximity and magnetic stripe functions on the same card, were issued to each of the dealership’s employees.

To monitor movement of new Hondas, Glanz installed long-distance barcode readers from Winter Springs, Fla.-based Barcode Automation Inc. at the entrance and exit of the garage car ramp. When a new vehicle would come off the delivery trailer, a barcode label would be affixed to the vehicle’s rear side window and assigned to the car in System Galaxy. As the vehicle would drive by the entrance or exit reader, the reader would scan that barcode label to track vehicles.

Barcode labels also solved the problem of employee parking. Each employee was issued a barcode label for his or her personal vehicle – or two labels, if the employee might drive a different car to work on certain days. The employees were also given assigned parking spots within the garage, while the dealership would store a complete dossier of each employee’s vehicles – make, model and license plate number. “If someone is in your spot,” noted Sanders, “you take down the license plate number, and we can look it up.”

To prevent unauthorized entry or exit of vehicles, the barcode readers work together with Irvine, Calif.-based HID Maxi-Prox readers to control a roll-up gate and traffic arm at the entrance and exit of the car ramp. The roll-up gate is held open during peak traffic periods of the day, when most employees arrive or leave. During the rest of the day, the gate rolls up and the traffic-arm lifts when triggered by the correct pairing of a car’s barcode scan and an employee’s authorized proximity card. As Glanz describes, “the system is unique from the point of view that we adapted the ‘two-person’ rule to fit a car and a driver.” Thus, only a person carrying an authorized card can use the garage’s access ramp for a new Honda or personal vehicle.

Security plays out in the dealership Rewards program. A customer card allows free washes for life at the car wash but also tracks use by dealership employees

Controlling entrances

To block unauthorized pedestrians, Glanz secured the stairwells and elevators with HID Mini-Prox readers. No card is necessary to ride an elevator from an upper floor to the ground floor, but any other access to the floors is restricted. An employee has to present his or her proximity card at the elevator’s reader in order to select a floor number, and then is only allowed to select certain assigned floors.

Glanz upgraded the security around the vehicle keys by adding a Bioscrypt (Van Nuys, Calif.) VeriProx fingerprint reader to the office door. “That was a room the Cases wanted at a higher level of security,” he explains. A Panasonic (Secaucus, N.J.) WVCP-244 color video camera was installed outside the office door and connected into a DVR from Integral Technologies of Indianapolis. The DVR integrates with System Galaxy so that activity from the access control system triggers the device to begin recording. The system captures images of each person using the office door, and the images can be retrieved by clicking on the door event record in the program.

A bank-style tube system connects the garage and main office, where the keys are kept. A salesperson needing a set of keys for an Accord, for example, uses an intercom from the garage to request that set of keys. He or she then sends over a badge to be scanned and recorded by the key teller. The Accord keys and the badge are sent back to the salesperson through the tube.

The gas station proved to be the most complicated piece of the system puzzle. Specific fire regulations for explosive-proof equipment applied to the two 12,000 gallon tanks. Communication between the pump system and System Galaxy took extra coordination, with the software provider writing a custom interface.

To address the mix of needs at the pump, including the rewards program, Glanz installed another distance barcode reader to read the labels of dealership cars and returning customers. “Every time a car goes through with a barcode, it enables the pump and attaches the record,” said Glanz.

In addition to the car label, two types of magnetic stripe cards are used at the gas station: employee badges and customer reward cards. The reward cards are simple magnetic stripe cards issued to the dealership’s customers. As the customer returns for oil changes, gas fill-ups and other services, the card accumulates reward points that can be redeemed for future purchases of vehicles, parts and services. The same card allows free washes for life at the car wash.

Employees, on the other hand, need to use the gas station to fuel the new Hondas. When an employee presents the magnetic stripe on their badge at the gas station, the cost for the fuel is recorded toward the expense report of the new Honda being filled.

To support records generated by the readers, Glanz captures digital images of pump activity with Panasonic WVCF-224 mini-dome video cameras mounted around the station. The cameras are connected to the DVR through the Galaxy program, and are programmed to record continuously.

Another benefit of the system is the creation of three different records for access events – a barcode record from the car, an employee badge record and a digital video image. “It’s secure,” assured Sanders. “Is it impenetrable? No. But our purpose was to keep someone from driving out with a car without our knowledge.” There is increased accountability for the sales people as well. “If we do a random security check, we know who had the keys last,” said Sanders. “If the car is damaged, we know who damaged the car.”

Finally, even Glanz and his company have reaped benefits from the system, as Honda dignitaries and car dealers of all sorts make pilgrimages to the now-famous site. As Glanz put it, “The Cases told us they would showcase our system to people from around the world, and true to their word, that’s what they have done.” For Rick and Rita Case and their company, honoring partnerships is just part of doing business – and business is booming.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Security Enterprise Services
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Columns
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Technologies & Solutions
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Sureview screen
    Sponsored bySureView Systems

    The Evolution of Automation in the Command Center

  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Rendered computer with keyboard

16B Login Credentials Exposed in World’s Largest Data Breach

Verizon on phone screen

61M Records Listed for Sale Online, Allegedly Belong to Verizon

Security camera

40,000 IoT Security Cameras Are Exposed Online

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Red spiderweb

From Retail to Insurance, Scattered Spider Changes Targets

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

What do zebras, school groups and high-tech surveillance have in common? They're all part of a day’s work for the security team at the Toledo Zoo.

August 7, 2025

Threats to the Energy Sector: Implications for Corporate and National Security

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of virtually every bad actor on the global stage.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • voting

    CISA Partners With Cutting-Edge Election Security Auditing Tool Ahead of 2020 Election

    See More
  • Pile of keys

    From the stone age to cutting edge: A case study on key management

    See More
  • Benz stadium at night

    The path to cutting-edge security at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Physical-Security-and-Envir.gif

    Physical Security and Environmental Protection

  • A Leaders Guide Book Cover_Nicholson_29Sept2023.jpg

    A Leader’s Guide to Evaluating an Executive Protection Program

  • Photonic-Sensing.gif

    Photonic Sensing: Principles and Applications for Safety and Security Monitoring

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • July 9, 2012

    Edge Storage

    Edge storage is a concept in Axis network cameras and video encoders that allow them to record video directly to a storage device such as an SD-card. It is sometimes referred to as local storage or onboard recording. In this webinar we will discuss the benefits of how this can help you in many applications.
  • August 27, 2025

    Risk Mitigation as a Competitive Edge

    In today’s volatile environment, a robust risk management strategy isn’t just a requirement—it’s a foundation for organizational resilience. From cyber threats to climate disruptions, the ability to anticipate, withstand, and adapt to disruption is becoming a hallmark of industry leaders.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing