Abstract: In this paper, a novel approach of color image license plate locating based on CNN color edge detection (LPLCCED) is put forward to solve the problems of low accuracy, too many steps and slow speed in the existing license plate locating algorithm. First, combined with the color feature of license plate, a special edge detection algorithm to locate the license plate is derived by means of the cell neural network (CNN) model. Constraint conditions for color pairs of the license plate are fused into the edge detection algorithm, thus the range of the initial location is greatly narrowed. Then, a kind of edge filtering algorithm is proposed for the feature of the license plate. Finally, the candidate areas are identified and verified according to the structure and texture feature of the license plate. Each step of the process can be implemented by hardware, and this new approach provides a basis for the pre-processing of license plate locating in the real-time license plate recognition systems used in the field of intelligent transportation.