NCJ Number
133860
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 39 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1991) Pages: 40,47-48
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
In the near future, one of several computer developments is that a police officer can pull his or her patrol vehicle behind a violator and access all pertinent information needed by simply touching a button and scanning the bar-coded license plate.
Abstract
With the touch of another button, the computer terminal will position the patrol unit's location from the satellite locator system and send a signal to the dispatcher that the subject vehicle has been stopped at that location. A patrol vehicle's computer may be equipped with a voice recognition module as well. When an officer states his or her location or suspect license plate number, the computer transmits the information to dispatch immediately. Any citation issued is recorded instantly on the person's record. In the future, police officers will not write speeding tickets. This function will be accomplished by robots, traffic speed surveillance transceivers located along the roadway. The transceiver will check a vehicle's speed against the posted limit; if there is a violation, it sends the information to records to mail the ticket. Computer techniques are also being improved dramatically to handle stolen cars, burglary, motor vehicle accidents, and domestic disturbances. In addition, police officers will not have to write or type reports in the future. When interviewing victims and suspects, both sides of the conversation will be digitally recorded. If a pertinent question is forgotten, the computer will issue a prompt.