The Gilroy Police Department is looking to go high-tech at low
cost. Police hope a $20,000 federal grant will pay for a hand-held
electronic citation system that could streamline the city’s
ticket-writing process by allowing officers to scan ID cards and
vehicle registration instantly – eliminating the need for pen and
paper.
GILROY – The Gilroy Police Department is looking to go high-tech at low cost.
Police hope a $20,000 federal grant will pay for a hand-held electronic citation system that could streamline the city’s ticket-writing process by allowing officers to scan ID cards and vehicle registration instantly – eliminating the need for pen and paper.
“It’s about efficiency,” said GPD Sgt. Chad Gallacinao, who added officers would be able to fill out citations in as little as 90 seconds with the new devices.
On average, most tickets take between five and 10 minutes to complete. Every minute officers spend filling out tickets, that’s time they could be spending on patrol, Gallacinao said.
The Council voted 7-0 Monday night approve the GPD’s grant application, which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The grant would pay for four hand-held devices – including batteries, docking stations, chargers, printers, paper rolls and fingerprint devices – and software subscriptions, according to a city staff report.
Mobizent, the New Jersey-based company that created the citation system, has a contract with Santa Clara County as an authorized vendor. The San Jose Police Department already uses the devices, Gallacinao said.
The software, TicketWorks, not only allows officers to complete “error free citations,” but also includes an office system that integrates into agency databases, local court systems and Department of Motor Vehicle records.
Each unit will cost approximately $3,800 and will require $1,200 in software, according to a city cost breakdown. The grant would pay to maintain the system for two years. After that, the city would have to pay $2,400 a year to keep the devices running, according to the staff report.
Electronic citation program features:
– Electronic scan/swipe of license and registration
– Pre-defined lists and options
– Printing to portable printer
– Advanced security features (biometric, signature validation)
– Wireless or Direct Synchronization
– Customizable to Department requirements
According to Mobizent.com.
