Speedy Traffic Tickets Urged
The Maryland legislature is considering a program that would allow law enforcement officials to issue e-citations to traffic violators, getting them back on the road more quickly and minimizing the amount of time officers have to stand in traffic.
The electronic citations would let officers swipe driver’s licenses and registrations to automatically generate a computerized ticket, which could then be transmitted electronically to the courts.
Local police departments would be able to switch to the electronic systems when they were ready. Many departments have already developed in-house software that allows them to handle e-citations.
The state police says that it is currently ready to make the switch. State police say they would prefer a system which would eliminate the need for drivers to sign the citations, but it is unclear if this preference will make it into the final draft of any legislation.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) from The Baltimore Sun (01/12/07); Fenton, Justin.
