Indianapolis Police Prepare for E-Tickets

INDIANAPOLIS --

Paper tickets will soon be a thing of the past for Indianapolis police, as the department prepares to go electronic.

Scanners, computers and printers are being installed in more than 1,000 police cruisers in anticipation of the switch in the matter of weeks,

6News' Jack Rinehart reported.

Indianapolis police issue more than 50,000 tickets a year, while Officer Bill McEvilly writes 150 a month.

He said the new $1.2 million system will be much easier to use.

"You scan the driver's license, scan the vehicle registration, which automatically imports that on the screen and eliminates the need to hand write it or type it," he said.

The e-tickets will also be much faster, officials said. Officers will spend less time standing on busy streets, and could save taxpayers money.

"You're looking at a lot less paperwork, more legible. It gets into the system, less chance of error or losing the paperwork for the officer, to the prosecutor, to the court," said Deputy Chief John Conley.

Indiana State Police have used the e-tickets for more than two years and applaud the advantages.

"The printer is actually right there. Once I hit the print, it takes about 40 seconds to print it off," said Trooper Tim Tret.

ISP uses a program designed by the judiciary system, while Indianapolis police will build their own. More than 30 other police agencies are either training on or planning to eventually use the IPS system as well.

A grant will pay for the Indianapolis program. Officials expect to have the system implemented by Aug. 1.

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