diff --git a/src/openalpr/characterregion.h b/src/openalpr/characterregion.h
index a4eabe4..ee2a8f0 100644
--- a/src/openalpr/characterregion.h
+++ b/src/openalpr/characterregion.h
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ class CharacterRegion
     CharacterRegion(PipelineData* pipeline_data);
     virtual ~CharacterRegion();
 
-    CharacterAnalysis *charAnalysis;
 
     int confidence;
 
@@ -52,6 +51,7 @@ class CharacterRegion
     Config* config;
     bool debug;
 
+    CharacterAnalysis *charAnalysis;
     cv::Mat findOuterBoxMask(std::vector<cv::Mat> thresholds, std::vector<std::vector<std::vector<cv::Point> > > allContours, std::vector<std::vector<cv::Vec4i> > allHierarchy);
 
     std::vector<bool> filter(cv::Mat img, std::vector<std::vector<cv::Point> > contours, std::vector<cv::Vec4i> hierarchy);
diff --git a/src/openalpr/platelines.cpp b/src/openalpr/platelines.cpp
index 10e13fc..df53cab 100644
--- a/src/openalpr/platelines.cpp
+++ b/src/openalpr/platelines.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ void PlateLines::processImage(Mat inputImage, CharacterRegion* charRegion, float
 
   // Create a mask that is dilated based on the detected characters
   vector<vector<Point> > polygons;
-  polygons.push_back(charRegion->charAnalysis->charArea);
+  polygons.push_back(charRegion->getCharArea());
   
   Mat mask = Mat::zeros(inputImage.size(), CV_8U);
   fillPoly(mask, polygons, Scalar(255,255,255));